IGotWorms 3,297 Posted October 31, 2014 http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/31/upshot/why-the-us-has-fallen-behind-in-internet-speed-and-affordability.html Americas slow and expensive Internet is more than just an annoyance for people trying to watch Happy Gilmore on Netflix. Largely a consequence of monopoly providers, the sluggish service could have long-term economic consequences for American competitiveness. Downloading a high-definition movie takes about seven seconds in Seoul, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Zurich, Bucharest and Paris, and people pay as little as $30 a month for that connection. In Los Angeles, New York and Washington, downloading the same movie takes 1.4 minutes for people with the fastest Internet available, and they pay $300 a month for the privilege, according to The Cost of Connectivity, a report published Thursday by the New America Foundations Open Technology Institute. The report compares Internet access in big American cities with access in Europe and Asia. Some surprising smaller American cities Chattanooga, Tenn.; Kansas City (in both Kansas and Missouri); Lafayette, La.; and Bristol, Va. tied for speed with the biggest cities abroad. In each, the high-speed Internet provider is not one of the big cable or phone companies that provide Internet to most of the United States, but a city-run network or start-up service. The reason the United States lags many countries in both speed and affordability, according to people who study the issue, has nothing to do with technology. Instead, it is an economic policy problem the lack of competition in the broadband industry. Its just very simple economics, said Tim Wu, a professor at Columbia Law School who studies antitrust and communications and was an adviser to the Federal Trade Commission. The average market has one or two serious Internet providers, and they set their prices at monopoly or duopoly pricing. Yay monopolies Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BunnysBastatrds 1,902 Posted October 31, 2014 I try!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Voltaire 4,550 Posted October 31, 2014 At least customer service is top notch in the US. Everybody loves Comcast. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IGotWorms 3,297 Posted October 31, 2014 At least customer service is top notch in the US. Everybody loves Comcast. I'm sensing some sarcasm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Voltaire 4,550 Posted October 31, 2014 I'm sensing some sarcasm The music selection you hear after the automated answering machine instructs you to push 4 and wait two hours for the next available representative is really magical. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IGotWorms 3,297 Posted October 31, 2014 Nobody cares? We use the Internet all day, every day. Businesses are dependent on it. Yet we are getting a sh!tty product that directly undermines our ability to compete in the information economy. And our pron doesn't download as quickly Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drobeski 3,061 Posted October 31, 2014 Mine works fine. Fake outrage Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Moz 69 Posted October 31, 2014 I click on a site and I get there in maybe 1/2 a second -- I guess I need to outrage because it's not 1/80 of a second? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mookz 1,287 Posted November 2, 2014 We have a friend with a 16 year old son who had an accident on his bike about a year ago. He was your average 15 year old kid until his accident. Now my wife is teaching him how to read again. My kid will wear a helmet when riding as long as he's living under my roof. He probably shouldn't be riding in the house in the first place. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerryskids 5,150 Posted November 2, 2014 He probably shouldn't be riding in the house in the first place. How did you manage to quote a post and respond in a different thread? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUXBNME 1,318 Posted November 2, 2014 How did you manage to quote a post and respond in a different thread? Talent. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reality 2,710 Posted November 2, 2014 How did you manage to quote a post and respond in a different thread? Seriously, mind blown..... That can't be done on accident can it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mookz 1,287 Posted November 2, 2014 Worm hole. Or just use "MultiQuote" and it will follow you around from thread to thread. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reality 2,710 Posted November 2, 2014 Worm hole. Or just use "MultiQuote" and it will follow you around from thread to thread. I'm guessing that's not a mobile option. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mookz 1,287 Posted November 2, 2014 I'm guessing that's not a mobile option. Being a shut-in has its perks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerryskids 5,150 Posted November 2, 2014 Worm hole. Or just use "MultiQuote" and it will follow you around from thread to thread. That doesn't explain how it ended up in this thread. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mookz 1,287 Posted November 2, 2014 That doesn't explain how it ended up in this thread. I quoted it a few days ago and got sick of seeing it down there on my screen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerryskids 5,150 Posted November 2, 2014 I quoted it a few days ago and got sick of seeing it down there on my screen. So why post your response in this thread? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mookz 1,287 Posted November 2, 2014 So why post your response in this thread? Because I suck at the internet. Hope I don't get sued by Wrong Thread Poster. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drobeski 3,061 Posted November 2, 2014 How did you manage to quote a post and respond in a different thread? it happens ... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joneo 529 Posted November 4, 2014 Well Sh!t, this is easily solved. President Obama has this economy clicking and is in control of the private companies driving this train. All he has to do is give the word and BAM, the good ol' USA will have the fastest internet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
