Cable companies and Trump’s FCC chair agree: Data caps are good for you

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lurknomore

Ars Scholae Palatinae
2,896
Maybe, next time we have a D victory in congress, we could ... legislate this shit?

Also, next time we have a D president, how about we don't waste two fucking years with a 2-2 deadlock before we get the FCC fixing the problems caused by the previous guy ?

When one party is very busy destroying everything in sight, the other needs to get better at using the tools they are provided to fix the mess. Otherwise they get blamed for not fixing the mess, and the breakers get back in charge, more extreme each time.
Rinse and repeat.
 
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36 (42 / -6)

jezra

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The problem with this statistic is not 100% of the population voted...so it misrepresents what happened.

I am happy my state went blue...but we still will have to deal with the shit-show thanks to everyone else.
I hear you. A far better metric IMO, would be the percentile of eligible voters; which would include those who can vote, but for whatever reason refuse to do so.

Saying "half the country chose trump", is simply not true either (as far as I am concerned). However, I guess that is easier to say than "of those that even bothered to vote, over half choose Trump".
 
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16 (18 / -2)

will2055

Smack-Fu Master, in training
4
Its frustrating to hear the echo chamber of the "free market" trumpeters. In an ideal system for free market capitalism, sure everything would mostly work fine. But our world is way more granular than that. There are loop holes, bad actors, and basic human behavior that throw a wrench in the whole argument that these "professionals" blissfully ignore when arguing their view points. I'm not saying that you have to be a devils advocate to the hilt but at least factor in actual realism when making policy changes!
 
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7 (9 / -2)
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will2055

Smack-Fu Master, in training
4
I hear you. A far better metric IMO, would be the percentile of eligible voters; which would include those who can vote, but for whatever reason refuse to do so.

Saying "half the country chose trump", is simply not true either (as far as I am concerned). However, I guess that is easier to say than "of those that even bothered to vote, over half choose Trump".
I've mulled on this a bit and while, traditionally, I was always taught the electoral college is meant to curve the ignorance of the average citizen when making political elections because the education of the average citizen (and yes, I use this loosely when talking about the 17th and 18th century) was too low to be competent in making informed decisions. However, looking at the rates that are reported (grain of salt) that people had second thoughts on their choices. It would seem that the electoral might actually be rendered useless when applied to the modern political environment that we are living in. Not only is it a way to de facto curve electoral power but it may, in some respect, be wholly useless in preventing it's original "purpose". I'm of the strong belief that the US voting structure needs to be evaluated and updated. However, that's just opening a whole other can of worms.... Sigh...
 
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11 (12 / -1)

smccloud

Wise, Aged Ars Veteran
182
Most homes in the US have at best two choices in ISPs. And nothing says free market competition like a duopoly.
If you want to talk about broadband ISPs, I have one choice. Spectrum cable. I can get Windstream DSL, but it goes down multiple times a day. I have five FTTH providers within 5 miles of mine, including one half a block from me, but the soonest I may get one will be summer of 2025.
 
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9 (9 / 0)
Get used to it, folks. The new New Speak will only get more absurd. It's just a different model of Trickle Down Economics where making the rich and powerful more rich and powerful is 'A good thing'. Remember "Greed is good!"?
This is only the beginning where 'News broadcasts', the Information Highway , the free exchange of ideas and the Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press is all part of the propaganda network.
When the fascists get going you'll be hard pressed to know what's going down because all the traditional corporate 'news' outlets will be nothing more than a mouthpiece for Big Brother. Including this site.
The Great American Experiment has ceased to exist.
We deserve who we elect.
 
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9 (14 / -5)

d_cooper

Smack-Fu Master, in training
91
One thing is true in this article, data caps do influence the 'competitive market'. I switched from Cox cable internet with a 1.25tb cap to a smaller local company's fiber offering with unlimited symmetrical connection. I probably wouldn't have bothered switching if the local company wasn't more competitive and didn't have the cap.

(Edit: forgot to mention Cox kept telling me I was using TWICE as much data as my own equipment reported I was using. Lying bastards.)

Eventually the local company will want to put caps in place once they have a good enough market share. Fingers crossed by then the pendulum has swung the other way and someone writes some damn laws. This topic alone is enough to make me vote Dem.
 
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-3 (3 / -6)

Hex008

Smack-Fu Master, in training
2
No, they didn’t. Voters beleived that Trump would make things cheaper for them. They didn’t understand cheaper meant the same price for less, not lower prices for the same thing. It will take time for voters to realize they’ve been had because they BELIEVE in Trump. How long does it take for a false god to fall from grace? We will find out in real time while the rest of the world continues to wonder how the USA can be so rich and powerful and technologically advanced, but still elect someone like Trump.
Unfortunately, this IS what people voted for. Just because most people are low information voters and voted based on what they believe rather than the facts on the ground and historical precedent doesn't change that.
 
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35 (37 / -2)
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I made the joke when Comcast first started offering gigabit speeds that you'd hit your quota in just over two hour
For most consumers once they get above a certain speed having more speed doesn't have much affect on the amount of data they use. They have enough time and interest to watch a certain number of movies, play a certain number of games, download a certain number of apps, and so on. What more speed goes into is not doing more of those things but rather not having to wait as long when they are downloading something.
 
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6 (6 / 0)

d_cooper

Smack-Fu Master, in training
91
I've mulled on this a bit and while, traditionally, I was always taught the electoral college is meant to curve the ignorance of the average citizen when making political elections because the education of the average citizen (and yes, I use this loosely when talking about the 17th and 18th century) was too low to be competent in making informed decisions. However, looking at the rates that are reported (grain of salt) that people had second thoughts on their choices. It would seem that the electoral might actually be rendered useless when applied to the modern political environment that we are living in. Not only is it a way to de facto curve electoral power but it may, in some respect, be wholly useless in preventing it's original "purpose". I'm of the strong belief that the US voting structure needs to be evaluated and updated. However, that's just opening a whole other can of worms.... Sigh...
Is the current electoral college weighted where each vote equals a certain number of citizens? I thought the other function of it was to give states a bit more power than their population may have in the lower population states. Which I'm sure peoples opinions of vary drastically depending on your geographic location.

I think there is some worthwhile discussion to be had about some states having more representation per person for a few reasons. But rather than arguing about that, I would say I'm very much in favor of changing the system entirely and getting rid of the first past the pole setup.
 
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-2 (4 / -6)
Unfortunately, this IS what people voted for. Just because most people are low information voters and voted based on what they believe rather than the facts on the ground and historical precedent doesn't change that.
Oh yes, this is what people voted for. Except they didn't know they were voting for this and every other fascist plan they didn't know awaited them. Corporate media made these clowns seem normal because they
A: Got direction from above to normalize the crazy talk
OR
B: Were absolutely cool with the fascist takeover.
Either way, it doesn't matter what they thought.
It's over, kids.
 
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8 (11 / -3)
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Its frustrating to hear the echo chamber of the "free market" trumpeters. In an ideal system for free market capitalism, sure everything would mostly work fine. But our world is way more granular than that. There are loop holes, bad actors, and basic human behavior that throw a wrench in the whole argument that these "professionals" blissfully ignore when arguing their view points. I'm not saying that you have to be a devils advocate to the hilt but at least factor in actual realism when making policy changes!
That data caps are used as an anticompetitive bludgeon to artificially make services like Netflix that compete with ISPs' inferior in-house streaming options look worse tells us that anyone who claims to favor the "free market" is lying about that if they also defend data caps.
 
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22 (22 / 0)

msawzall

Ars Tribunus Angusticlavius
6,289
True, we got data caps under the democrats and now nothing is planned to be changed under the republicans. Was there any difference from the election? Does either balance the budget? Does either fix, well anything. Why do they keep taking our money, and only getting bad service?
Sounds like a plan was in place (under the Dems) to regulate caps, and the Repubs are gonna end it:
The Federal Communications Commission's plan to investigate and potentially regulate data caps is all but dead now
But continue with your both sidesing.
 
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40 (41 / -1)

pnellesen

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We need a digital version of those goofy Biden "I did that!" stickers that trolls slapped all over gas pumps back in 2021, but picturing Trump, and then add them to every post we see from people whining about the leopards eating their faces.
I want an "I did that" sticker with a mirror finish. I'll need about 50 million of 'em...
 
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14 (15 / -1)

s73v3r

Ars Legatus Legionis
24,533
No, they didn’t.
No, anyone that voted for Trump wanted this. They had all the information everyone else did. They had access to Project 2025. They have no excuse whatsoever. They voted for tariffs, and they voted for data caps.

I'm sick and tired of people pretending Republicans don't have any agency.
 
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40 (41 / -1)
True, we got data caps under the democrats and now nothing is planned to be changed under the republicans. Was there any difference from the election? Does either balance the budget? Does either fix, well anything. Why do they keep taking our money, and only getting bad service?
Well, if data caps are all you care about, then, yeah, 'nothing is planned to be changed'.
I guess you'll notice the 'fix' soon enough. You'll still have your data caps, so rest easy. At least-in your world- nothing will be 'changed'.
Oh, to be so lucky.
 
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7 (7 / 0)
I'm am continually astounded by the number of people who voted for this that seem shocked that they did in fact vote for this. "Listen inflation was real bad and we need to go back to fix it," and I'm just like, "you don't know how inflation works and you made no effort to know, and you were incurious as to how the fantastical things promised might be accomplished."

I've never seen so many people so passionately ignorant. Dedicated to being ignorant even, as if it were a badge of rare honor.
 
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36 (37 / -1)

CalJake

Ars Centurion
305
Subscriptor
BTW, I'm in the SF Bay Area, and Sonic is running an excellent commercial, showing how crappy the bandwidth is in general in the US compared to the rest of the world, high costs, data caps, poor customer service, shady price schedules, etc, USA! USA! USA! It's almost like it's directed at us Comcast customers.
 
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2 (3 / -1)

DarthSlack

Ars Legatus Legionis
20,635
Subscriptor++
Most homes in the US have at best two choices in ISPs. And nothing says free market competition like a duopoly.

And nothing says duopoloy like two companies collaborating to keep prices high.

For those of you who live in somewhat enlightened areas of the US, it's time to start pushing hard for municipal ISPs.
 
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12 (13 / -1)

mpfaff

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I guess it's better than being bombarded with "they/them" agendas, mass media and new laws to cater to "them" snowflakes.

It does suck that the Democrats wanted to treat people like people. I remember 20 years ago it was the "gay agenda", turns out they also just wanted to be treated like people, homophobia is now cringe and transphopbia is in, I'm sure this view won't be seen as quaint and dumb in another 20 years...

Also the biggest promoters of trans stuff were Republicans running transphobic ads. the Democrats were barely saying a peep as the GOP just blasted the airwaves constantly with those shitty ads.

But hey, getting screwed by your ISP with government's blessing is a worhy price to pay if you can make some people you don't like more marginalized, eh?
 
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39 (41 / -2)
I'm am continually astounded by the number of people who voted for this that seem shocked that they did in fact vote for this. "Listen inflation was real bad and we need to go back to fix it," and I'm just like, "you don't know how inflation works and you made no effort to know, and you were incurious as to how the fantastical things promised might be accomplished."

I've never seen so many people so passionately ignorant. Dedicated to being ignorant even, as if it were a badge of rare honor.
I'm 72 and middle class Republican voters have been voting against their best interests since I became politically aware.
The Republicans now have a propaganda machine that the Third Reich could only dream about.
Why did most of the electorate not know that the United States has the most robust economy in the G7?
Between FOX'NEWS' and the corporate media, regular people fell for their lies.
Too late. They'll reap what they sow.
 
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28 (30 / -2)
according to the latest numbers, the US has a population of 335,893,238 and Trump received 76657498. That's about 22.8% of the country.
FIFY

According to the latest numbers the US has a voting age population of 231, 000, 000 and Trump received 76,657,498. That's 33% of voting eligible people.
Is the current electoral college weighted where each vote equals a certain number of citizens? I thought the other function of it was to give states a bit more power than their population may have in the lower population states. Which I'm sure peoples opinions of vary drastically depending on your geographic location.

I think there is some worthwhile discussion to be had about some states having more representation per person for a few reasons. But rather than arguing about that, I would say I'm very much in favor of changing the system entirely and getting rid of the first past the pole setup.
Every election you hear a call to revamp the electoral college. Last time Trump won the Dems were screaming about it because they won the popular vote. This time they lost the popular vote, albeit just among registered voters, so I'm surprised to hear that call this time. Each elector represents a finite number of people since their number is based on how many Congressmen each state has in the House, but once they go to the Electoral College none of that matters, each vote stands alone. Traditionally a states electors represent the way the population voted, however they are not held to that rule. How they vote is only a tradition, they don't have to vote for their party.

It's not likely to happen, but it can, and if it did, this would be the first.
 
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-16 (1 / -17)

jdietz

Ars Praefectus
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Do caps allow more users (all of whom have caps) to use the same service (wired/wireless/whatever)?

Seems like they don't because everyone wants to use the service at the same time (so number of users is gating, not how much data they use). Timed caps would make sense because they encourage people to use the service when it has spare capacity.

Timed caps were widely used in the 2G era. No word on whether the caps allowed more people to use the service, but they probably did.
 
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-2 (0 / -2)

Rrr7

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Why would they want you to run slower? You hit the cap faster with faster speeds.

Nah, you'll 'hit the cap' just cause your ISP said so, whether or not you actually used the internet at all. They just bill you for the 'overage', good luck trying to somehow convince them they were wrong.
 
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15 (15 / 0)
FIFY

According to the latest numbers the US has a voting age population of 231, 000, 000 and Trump received 76,657,498. That's 33% of voting eligible people.

Every election you hear a call to revamp the electoral college. Last time Trump won the Dems were screaming about it because they won the popular vote. This time they lost the popular vote, albeit just among registered voters, so I'm surprised to hear that call this time. Each elector represents a finite number of people since their number is based on how many Congressmen each state has in the House, but once they go to the Electoral College none of that matters, each vote stands alone. Traditionally a states electors represent the way the population voted, however they are not held to that rule. How they vote is only a tradition, they don't have to vote for their party.

It's not likely to happen, but it can, and if it did, this would be the first.
The intended purpose of the electoral college -- a preventative measure against faux-populist political movements -- and the role it actually performs now, are also two wildly different things. Now it's actually enabling the very thing it was created and intended to prevent. And it's done so multiple times. Electors were also a product of the realities of trying to handle a general vote when people might live hundreds of miles from the nearest town or city where they could vote, at a time when that was a journey of (often dangerous) several days.

So when people say it's time to abolish the electoral college, that's why. It hasn't simply outlived its usefulness. It is now actively counterproductive to a functional and healthy democracy.
 
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