🚀 go-pugleaf

In <3172708e.4477732@news.enteract.com>, jlandess@starnetinc.com (Josh Landess) writes:
>On 15 Apr 1996 03:03:35 GMT, Tommy the Terrorist <u58563@uic.edu>
>wrote:
>
>>In article <3171758c.1541757@news.enteract.com> Josh Landess,
>>jlandess@starnetinc.com writes:
>>>The net, like anything else, has inherent limitations.  There is only
>>>a certain amount of data that its can handle in its present form.
>>   If "market forces" were set to drive Internet prices up, the long
>>distance companies wouldn't be demanding this censorship of their rivals,
>>now would they?  The simple fact is that when you pay for a dialup
>>account with an Internet Provider, you pay for all the access you can
>>cram down a 28.8k modem line.  Whether it's those silly pictures on the
>>Netscape Home Page, or a telephone conversation, that amount of bandwidth
>>is used up for most of the time you're on-line.  Notice that the I-phone
>>connection goes via that modem; hence, it uses substantially less
>>bandwidth than an ISDN line, which is what effectively is used up by one
>>standard telephone conversation.  You use 28.8k with I-phone, versus 64k
>>for the standard.  What the phone companies want banned, therefore, is
>>the Internet Provider's ability to offer people a wider range of options
>>as to how much voice quality they are willing to sacrifice in order to
>>get a cheaper connection!
>
> I was not aware of the differences in bandwidth, but was simply
>looking at supply and demand.  If I am able to speak long distance
>using my isp on a regular basis and others increasingly do this, then
>I suspect the price will go up. Even if supply is increased I do not
>at present see how it can keep pace with demand.

Aggregate bandwidth is doubling every year, which is faster than CPU
power has been increasing.  Yes, right now there may be growing
pains, but there will be capacity shortly.

>>  This is absolutely contrary to the spirit of
>>the "Free Market" propaganda we hear spouted from every politician's
>>lips, but of course, wholly in the spirit of what they actually intend.
>
>>   Note also that the Free Market does not force people to get a good
>>deal.  If people like you are willing to meekly acquiesce to rate
>>increases and service cuts, 
>
> I do not want to pay higher prices but am trying to remain cognizant
>of the forces at work.

The FCC is also considering motions to eliminate per minute charges,
and restructure the entire telecommunications cost structure over to the
same basis as the 'net.

(original article)
>>this will DEFINE the new demand curve, and
>>cause those increases and cuts.  Whereas those who shop around for the
>>best deal benefit not only themselves, but all other consumers as well,
>>by rewarding good companies for good service.

Any time there is a change in the cost structure, there is a change in the
demand curve, as people adjust their habits to fit their budgets. If competitive
market forces are held in check by regulatory restrictions, thats what causes
the capacity crunches.

                                                           -john