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A comment on Join the Battle for Net Neutrality. Parent comment

Re:Join the Battle for Net Neutrality by api on Wednesday November 22, 2017 @12:29AM (#15754480)
Look at what ISPs do in Portugal, which lacks any kind of net neutrality. They are already trying to bundle sites and protocols like cable channels. It's not far fetched at all.
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Re:Join the Battle for Net Neutrality by tonyztan on Wednesday November 22, 2017 @12:32AM (#15754492)
Here's a screenshot from the Portuguese ISP's pricing page: https://twitter.com/RoKhanna/status/923701871092441088

Exactly like a cable bundle.

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Re:Join the Battle for Net Neutrality by LastZactionHero on Wednesday November 22, 2017 @12:47AM (#15754560)
I'm all for net neutrality, but it feels important to note that this is for mobile service:

https://www.meo.pt/internet/internet-movel/telemovel/pacotes...

Also, it looks like the same company provides gigabit internet for $50/mo:

https://www.meo.pt/pacotes/mais-pacotes/fibra/net-voz

Again, I support net neutrality, but it's still technically better than my Comcast.

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Re:Join the Battle for Net Neutrality by rory096 on Wednesday November 22, 2017 @12:57AM (#15754603)
>I'm all for net neutrality, but it feels important to note that this is for mobile service:

The current net neutrality regulations apply to both fixed and mobile broadband.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/04/13/2015-07...

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Re:Join the Battle for Net Neutrality by mortehu on Wednesday November 22, 2017 @12:50AM (#15754577)
That's a misleadingly vague description of what the page is for. Mobile data providers in US already offer similar deals, like T-Mobile's "Binge On".
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Re:Join the Battle for Net Neutrality by BoorishBears on Wednesday November 22, 2017 @12:49AM (#15754570)
Those are flat rates for unlimited access to certain services.

If you scroll down there's also per/mb pricing with no services listed.

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Re:Join the Battle for Net Neutrality by int_19h on Wednesday November 22, 2017 @07:15AM (#15756193)
Of course, if you use per/Mb pricing, then those services suddenly become much more expensive.

Which means that any competitor to those services now faces a high barrier to entry - they can't just compete on features, they have to be that much better to overcome the cheaper cost of mobile data for the product they're trying to compete with. Which leads to easier formation of monopolies.

Which is exactly the kind of thing that was pointed out as the problem requiring Net Neutrality in the first place.

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Re:Join the Battle for Net Neutrality by rory096 on Wednesday November 22, 2017 @12:45AM (#15754549)
>Portugal... lacks any kind of net neutrality.

Last I checked, Portugal is in the European Union. Presumably it has the same net neutrality rules the rest of the EU does.

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Re:Join the Battle for Net Neutrality by jplayer01 on Wednesday November 22, 2017 @05:58AM (#15755898)
Yes, but these net neutrality rules have loop-holes for zero-rating. It's not as ironclad as it should be. Portugal just seems to be on the forefront of abusing these.
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