[Chapter-delegates] Why is ISOC is doing almost nothing to bring affordable Internet to America

[David Vyorst]

Great points!

On Thu, Dec 20, 2012 at 2:51 PM, Dave Burstein <daveb at dslprime.com> wrote:

> On the NY ISOC list, Thomas writes
>
> "Here's the vision thing. What would have happened if I'd have said
> something like,
>
>   * ISOC-NY advocates for universal access to a quality Net experience
>     for every New Yorker. We believe every resident should have Internet
>     access with enough speed that it enables them to fully participate
>     in deciding upon and receiving government services."
>
> I just spent two weeks in Dubai where ISOC had strong opinions on how poor
> countries should bring down costs. I wanted to cry out "Physician heal
> thyself" because the increases in U.S. costs lately have been
> unconscionable. Verizon's fees start at $55 as far as I can tell (only 1
> megabit!)and for most in NYC (FiOS territory) the minimum is over $78. The
> standard service at Time Warner cable is $58. I just doublechecked those
> prices with the companies.
>
>     That's much higher than the $20-45 that was a common  fee in years
> past. Verizon by most measures is up 50-100%, Time Warner 20%. All this at
> a time the cost to deliver the service is going down. (Routers, modems,
> capex of the companies, even support, as I've reported elsewhere).
>
>    Before that, I was at ECTA Brussels where speaker after speaker pointed
> out European prices are often half what the Americans charge for similar.
> That's slightly exaggerated but the gap is clear.
>
>    It's time to start working - hard - to make sure the Internet is
> affordable to Americans. Otherwise, our advice to the Africans is hollow.
>
>    How do we turn around ISOC to start doing something about prices going
> up in America.
>
> db
>
> p.s. I cc'd this directly to Paul, North American ISOC rep. As a former
> Verizon employee, he knows they are looking to maximize profits so of
> course take advantage of weak competition. He and Sally have done a great
> job bringing the chapters and members into the ISOC discussion. They also
> have been doing a great job getting the telcos involved in ISOC. It's
> particularly difficult for ISOS to get involved in bringing affordability
> to the U.S., but that's what we need to do.
>
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