The concept of net neutrality seems very short sighted. Cell provided is starting to compete with cable. There's also satellite and copper wire from the phone companies. As a consumer, I feel like the trend is in the right direction. Why would I want to setup a regulatory environment that would likely deliver higher rates and poorer service?
I am in SF and the only provider or gigabit fiber in my building is comcast.
A true competitive market does not exist (not unless you consider 15mbps DSL as an alternative to 1000mbps fiber) and therefore the reality of “competition” in the ISP market is abusive monopolies or oligopolies, just like how the reality of communist regimes are abusive authoritarianism.
Sounds like you have a healthy amount of competition in SF. I bet you could write down at least six providers if you include cellular internet. That sounds like a very healthy market to me, what's the claim? That you only have one gigabit option? I remember feeling the same way when I only had 33.6k with AOL 20 years ago. The advancement has been really incredible.
Regarding the abusiveness of authoritarian regimes, I'd suggest the book(s), "The Gulag Archipelago."
Nope, T-Mobile specifically caps mobile LTE usage to prevent people from using unlimited LTE as a replacement for home internet. And even that is about 20-40 mbps.
Why? There's almost no competition in the US from the complaints often posted here. Further, the rates seem to be insanely high (comparing to various countries in Europe).
Why would a company that has no competition lower the rates?
(First of all, satellite in no-way can compete with copper. That's lunacy, and not even remotely comparable.)
But to answer your question, the regulatory environment helps ensure the desired outcome.
I mean, why have building codes? If enough buildings go up in flames or crumble down killing everyone inside, then maybe we could look into regulating the building industry.
Why have food safety standards? Nobody really dies that much these days from food-related illness, so shouldn't we get rid of all that pesky regulation?
But more to the point, just because they seem to be going where you want today, what has that got to do with where they will go tomorrow?
From my view wealth is the primary mechanism these really great changes are delivered.
I used to work in electricity regulation on the side of consumers. I watched the utilities use the regulatory process to bilk customers. The regulatory process sets the stage for rent seeking. The companies out match the state over and over.
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