Mommy, I Can't Compete.

Last week, our bought-and-paid-for Congress rejected attempts to insure that "net neutrality" remains the law of the internet. This principle would provide for all webpages to be delivered to users and the pages to be delivered at equal speed. Companies like Verizon and AT&T have said that they would like to create a multi-tiered internet, charging different premium prices for delivery of certain sites. They claim that they need this ability in order to "compete."

Let me put this as kindly and simply as possible: Bullshit!

Verizon doesn't want to compete, instead they want the market handed to them. Verizon's competition problems stem mostly from the fact that they have done little to improve their infrastructure and technical ability to deliver broadband service. I personally know at least ten people who would have DSL at their residence if Verizon made it available. One friend of mine lives in a high-density area of Columbia, MD and still can't get DSL because the lines aren't there. Now, Verizon is begging for a new revenue stream that requires that they do NOTHING except collect bribes from websites, simply to allow the content to be delivered. That is NOT competition!

I've had enough of Verizon and I'm getting them out of my life. I'm switching to another cellphone provider and ditching my landline phone service. Of course, then I'm stuck with Comcast, a monopoly. You know, I don't get the whole "competition" idea. Where is the competition in monopolies? Deregulation of companies like Verizon and Comcast was supposed to provide innovation, new services and lower prices to customers, but it never has. Instead these companies provide minimal services, far behind those available in Europe and Asia, lousy support for their services, and higher prices. Then, when bad management and disrespect for the customer costs them business, they go tug Congress's skirt and whine, "Help me Mommy, I can't compete."