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A comment on F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as a Utility. Parent comment

Re:F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as ... by HelloMcFly on Monday February 02, 2015 @02:07PM (#8986076)
I'm not 100% happy with my utility companies, but I'm 500% more satisfied with them than any cable company I've ever had.
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Re:F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as ... by cranklin on Monday February 02, 2015 @02:24PM (#8986231)
I can dump my cable company if they piss me off. I can't do that with my utility companies
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Re:F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as ... by fletchowns on Monday February 02, 2015 @02:27PM (#8986267)
For a lot of people, they can't dump their cable company if they piss them off, because that's the only option they have available.
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Re:F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as ... by lutorm on Monday February 02, 2015 @02:27PM (#8986260)
I can too, and then not have cable. At least with the utility company, I can put up PV panels and live off grid.
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Re:F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as ... by cranklin on Monday February 02, 2015 @07:30PM (#8988130)
as if electricity is the only utility, right?
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Re:F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as ... by VLM on Monday February 02, 2015 @02:55PM (#8986481)
Say goodbye to your occupancy permit, which will probably cause mortgage default.

You won't be kicked out of your house for canceling cable.

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Re:F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as ... by rkuykendall-com on Monday February 02, 2015 @02:33PM (#8986310)
Most Americans can't dump their cable company.
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Re:F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as ... by bratsche on Monday February 02, 2015 @02:47PM (#8986416)
In my area, the cable provider is the only one that offers somewhat fast speeds. Whenever they overcharge me and I spend hours sorting it out (this has happened a few times) with them I wish I could switch, but DSL is just not fast enough for working remotely.

I don't have other options for all my other utilities, but so far they have overcharged me and screwed things up royally exactly zero times.

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Re:F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as ... by dublinben on Monday February 02, 2015 @03:02PM (#8986550)
The FCC just raised its minimum definition of broadband, so that DSL probably doesn't even qualify anymore. As if it should have before.

http://arstechnica.com/business/2015/01/fcc-chairman-mocks-i...

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Re:F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as ... by graywh on Monday February 02, 2015 @03:51PM (#8986862)
The cable company's Internet service may not either.
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Re:F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as ... by ForHackernews on Monday February 02, 2015 @03:08PM (#8986589)
In many parts of America, electricity is partially deregulated and you can switch providers.
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Re:F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as ... by cranklin on Monday February 02, 2015 @07:34PM (#8988141)
and how about water, sewage, gas?
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Re:F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as ... by ForHackernews on Monday February 02, 2015 @08:03PM (#8988261)
Natural gas is deregulated in some places: http://www.ohionaturalgas.com/deregulation.html

Honestly though, large utilities are a good case of a "natural monopoly".

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Re:F.C.C. Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as ... by Omniusaspirer on Tuesday February 03, 2015 @01:28AM (#8989160)
Sure you can- nothing stops you from installing your own power generation/water purification (assuming you own your home and don't have a Nazi township/HOA).
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