cross-posted from: https://vlemmy.net/post/152995
Alternative published title: AT&T/Verizon lobby group pushes for payments from Big Tech
This type of logic only makes sense in the case of public utilities, not privately owned companies.
What do they think we’re paying for? I don’t see how the non-amortized costs (ie, non-infrastructure-buildout costs) could ever approach the amount they pull in revenue. This also ignores the fact that the telcos have gotten somewhere in the double-digit billions of dollars (iirc, around $40B) in taxpayer money to build out fiber infrastructure, that they never delivered on. What are they using this money for? What are they using their subscription revenue for?
You are mistaken: It’s not over 40 billion, it’s closer to half a trillion.
I’m not from the states so I don’t have no skin in the game, but correct me if I’m wrong, weren’t ISPs responsible for upgrading the country’s network, given a large amount of money, and just sat on their asses or something? I remember something to that effect.
You’re completely correct, and they have been continually given money every year since the 90’s.
Yes, they got almost half a TRILLION dollars from tax payers in various forms to roll out nationwide fiber, but did not roll out nationwide fiber. Never mind the absolutely ludicrous prices they charge along with crazy bullshit like data caps, throttling, and lying about advertised speeds.
So ISPs are charging an arm and a leg, but they’re saying others should pay? I’d love to be in a business where someone else pays for my business expenses and I keep the revenue.
ISPs are desperate to cling on, but they’re really just going the way of cable. They didn’t care to improve their infrastructure, so now they’re fading into irrelevance as mobile data gets faster and more reliable.
Great idea. They’ve taken advantage of cheap publicily subsidized infrastructure for far too long while making obscene profits. This is a great idea, as long as the infrastructure itself and the operator/service provider is collectivized as well.
Can we collectivize big tech while we’re at it?
How about that time ISPs got like half a trillion for building out broadband and then they didn’t do much of anything with it?
I maintain this is an absurd idea. Everyone pays for their internet access. Presumably smart business people would build into that price some funding for upgrades over time.
In another thread someone pointed out their internet services are hugely profitable, like 90% for some companies.
The biggest cost is running cable (fiber). Everything else hardly registers in comparison. There is a reason so many cable companies in the US use some version of DOCSIS. It is so they don’t have to run new fiber and just use existing coaxial.
Internet providers for the most part spend as little as they can and run things badly. Upgrade as little as possible and do stupid maintenance. Then they charge absurd amounts for minimal support and low speeds, then act surprised if you choose something else when it becomes available.
I avoid AT&T and Verizon like the plague.
