cross-posted from: https://vlemmy.net/post/152995
Alternative published title: AT&T/Verizon lobby group pushes for payments from Big Tech
cross-posted from: https://vlemmy.net/post/152995
Alternative published title: AT&T/Verizon lobby group pushes for payments from Big Tech
Or maybe we should hold ISPs accountable for the $400 Billion they pocketed instead of laying fiber in the late 90s.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-book-of-broken-promis_b_5839394
Yeah I’m surprised they’re saying anything about this since it immediately made me remember that garbage they pulled.
Retired telecom worker here:
Every single time your telecommunications provider goes to DC to lobby against their taxes they promise “Please oh please please if you’ll just lower our taxes we pinky swear to expand broadband. We’re going to expand the reach of DSL, we’re gonna lay cable for Uverse internet, we’re invented this thing where high speed internet goes over your electrical grid. We promise you we can do the thing if only you’ll cut our taxes.”
So DC does and guess what happens? Job cuts. Cut back on techs needed to actually do the work. The money is used for stock buy backs, to buy a company or two (bought at a high price then sold at a loss of course) and the CEO bails with a golden parachute:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2020/05/12/atts-ceo-steps-down-with-a-64-million-gold-plated-retirement-plan/?sh=3ede18b759bd
They surely do love that corporate socialism when daddy sam is paying but “free markets” where they are a monopoly when they are raising my bill every year.
Maybe they figured we had all forgotten about that by now lol
ISPs: “Fine. We’ll build fiber now. And this time, we’ll do it for only $350 billion. Such a bargain!”
Omfg this
Where is the bill to take all infrastructure made using this public money and give the infrastructure to the public?
I wish. I also wish I could be connected to the fiber that is literally 1 mile away from my house.
I have fiber but my town is building muni fiber that will be $25/mo cheaper for the same speeds. They just finished another segment. It stops 200 ft south of my property. They’ll be back to finish the area in about 18 months after they do most of the north side of town first.
Jealous they actually plan to expand your side better than not knowing at least!