Slog - Comments on America and Europe: Compare and Contrast http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast When the FCC held hearings on Net Neutrality in Boston recently, the room was so packed that many interested citizens had to be turned away. Seems like good news, right? Well, no. Turns out Comcast had hired a bunch of sleepy folks to show up early and fill the seats, thereby preventing regular people from voicing their concerns. Fuckers. Anyone getting their cable service through Qwest or another provider in Seattle? I would really love to drop Comcast. Here's some video: Meanwhile, in Europe, the EU is considering adopting a proposal that would classify Internet censorship as a trade barrier,... Copyright 2008 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:51:28 -0800 Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:37:00 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Nat Does Qwest even offer IPTV? Seattle is a Qwest-only town, so there's no hope of getting FiOS for years, if ever.

]]> Nat http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951444 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951444 Tech Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:59:28 -0800 Comment by Anthony Hecht Ah, your right, Nat. Qwest bundles DirectTV services, but doesn't offer their own. Shat.

]]> Anthony Hecht http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951454 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951454 Tech Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:04:42 -0800 Comment by Fnarf There are parts of Seattle that are outside Comcast's service area; they can get cable internet from Millennium Cable, or rather their internet division, which is called Backstreet or Blackstripe or something like that. Broadstripe, that's it. There's no areas where you get to choose, though.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951462 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951462 Tech Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:08:29 -0800 Comment by giffy @3, Those areas are the poor(and black) parts of Seattle relegated to the unrelenting crap that is Millennium.

]]> giffy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951467 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951467 Tech Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:13:14 -0800 Comment by Cato Those areas are the poor(and black) parts of Seattle

I'm neither poor nor black and I am forced to suffer through the unrelenting crap that is Millennium.

Are you trying to imply something is wrong with my neighborhood?

]]> Cato http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951478 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951478 Tech Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:21:48 -0800 Comment by vooodooo84 Wait i am confused there is a worse cable operator than Comcast, that is a fucking shock

]]> vooodooo84 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951500 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951500 Tech Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:39:36 -0800 Comment by cmaceachen more importantly, it kept the press out of the hearings. according to valleywag, though, the FCC is considering having a redo.

http://valleywag.com/361529/fcc-contemplating-do+over-comcast-hearing-at-stanford

]]> cmaceachen http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951501 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951501 Tech Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:40:32 -0800 Comment by Levislade I don't have Comcast. I have this other thing, and it's actually free. It's called No Cable.

]]> Levislade http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951502 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951502 Tech Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:42:33 -0800 Comment by Phil M BoingBoing reported this Tuesday, then followed up yesterday with: "FCC may do-over Comcast Net Neutrality hearing due to presence of paid Comcastards".

]]> Phil M http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951507 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951507 Tech Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:44:55 -0800 Comment by Lauren @8: This is about the Internet, not TV. I'm assuming you have access to the Internet, since... well, here you are.

]]> Lauren http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951514 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951514 Tech Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:51:14 -0800 Comment by laterite IP (and IPv6, someday) is the method for all future communication mediums. Home phone, wireless (or "cell") phones, TV, radio, web browsing, all of it. That's why this discussion covers tv and internet. Convergence is now, and we need to have our voice on how it's meted out and kept free.

]]> laterite http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951522 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951522 Tech Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:01:04 -0800 Comment by Andy Niable Well, after months of bitching about my cable provider, Broadstripe, not offering LOGO, finally I can be relieved they aren't as evil as Comcast.

Not yet at least.

]]> Andy Niable http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951536 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951536 Tech Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:14:52 -0800 Comment by Nat @10 -- it's about "cable service", which implies both TV and internet.

I entertained the idea of using OTA HD after seeing what stellar reception my mom gets in the Bay Area. For way less than the cost of cable TV I could fill in nearly all the cable-only gaps through iTunes, Netflix, or other mechanisms. The exception was baseball, which I'd miss, but which is not worth the cost of cable by itself.

However, as I live in the bottom of an apartment building at the bottom of a large hill, and with no roof access to mount an antenna, the good people at antennaweb.org tell me that all I'd be able to receive is PBS and the CW. OTA reception will be a factor the next time I move, though.

]]> Nat http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951538 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951538 Tech Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:16:40 -0800 Comment by Lauren @13: I'm pretty sure net neutrality legislation would effect those with DSL connections as well, not just cable subscribers.

]]> Lauren http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951539 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951539 Tech Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:21:39 -0800 Comment by HL www.dish.com

www.directv.com

Both are quality providers, though only for TV and HDTV, not for Internet access, which is slower than cable and more expensive.

]]> HL http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951563 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951563 Tech Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:59:08 -0800 Comment by HL oops... make that www.dishnetwork.com

sorry.

gotta remember to check my work.

]]> HL http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951564 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951564 Tech Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:00:35 -0800 Comment by idaho Why don't you guys get satellite and DSL?

]]> idaho http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951566 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951566 Tech Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:02:33 -0800 Comment by gnossos I've been sticking w/Comcast just because the overall speed kicks the pants off DSL. But the traffic shaping they've been engaging in and a general inability to upload for the last four or five months is driving me towards DSL.

What I really want to see is a class action suit against Comcast. Or at least some sort of concerted effort to get them to cease and desist.

]]> gnossos http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951617 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951617 Tech Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:23:15 -0800 Comment by Chris "Horse With No Name" is a good song. "The Final Countdown" is a terrible song.

]]> Chris http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951621 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951621 Tech Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:25:22 -0800 Comment by treacle Why do you have cable again?

Until you can pay for only the channels you want, it's essentially paying to have fecal matter piped into your brain.

They don't call it programming for nothing, you know.

]]> treacle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951654 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951654 Tech Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:03:04 -0800 Comment by gnossos unh @20, I think most of us here are talking are talking about cable internet, not TV.

This whole conversation started over the news that Comcast was shaping network traffic. It has nothing to do with TV.

]]> gnossos http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951660 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951660 Tech Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:28:09 -0800 Comment by Giffy @ You think its wrong to be poor and black?

]]> Giffy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951676 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951676 Tech Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:09:21 -0800 Comment by Jeff A friend of mine once called Millennium (the former name of Broadstripe) to complaint about yet another problem he was having with his service. When he told the rep, "I never had these kinds of problems with Comcast!", the rep actually said, "We'll never be as good as Comcast. We don't have the money." Now that's just sad.

]]> Jeff http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951704 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951704 Tech Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:18:46 -0800 Comment by Gitai Get Dish Network. DirecTV is owned by Rupert Murdoch and Comcast is evil. Further, Broadstripe utterly sucks, and is what drove me to Dish in the first place.

]]> Gitai http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951789 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951789 Tech Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:35:06 -0800 Comment by Rachael F. I'm poor and Black and I have Comcast. But I'd totally rather be a rich white person who has Millenium. That sounds like fun.

]]> Rachael F. http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951855 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c951855 Tech Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:23:03 -0800 Comment by Nat Can't speak for Anthony, but I'm not interested in satellite because satellite services don't work with Tivo -- not well in SD, and not at all in HD.

And @21, the question was, "Anyone getting their cable service through Qwest or another provider in Seattle? I would really love to drop Comcast." There's nothing ISP-specific there.

]]> Nat http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c952009 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/america_and_europe_compare_and_contrast#c952009 Tech Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:37:00 -0800