[HN Gopher] AT&T lobbies against nationwide fiber, says 10Mbps u...
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       AT&T lobbies against nationwide fiber, says 10Mbps uploads are good
       enough
        
       Author : danaris
       Score  : 40 points
       Date   : 2021-03-29 20:17 UTC (2 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (arstechnica.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (arstechnica.com)
        
       | airhead969 wrote:
       | Google Fiber has been pretty awesome for a few months. 100+ Mbps
       | up and down consistently over wireless and wired. It's supposed
       | to be 1 Gbps, but the fiber is another room and I can't run
       | ethernet to it. So, the Google WiFi APs mesh is what I use.
        
       | cardiffspaceman wrote:
       | AT&T runs radio ads mocking cable internet and specifically its
       | "slow" upload compared to fiber.
        
       | elijahwright wrote:
       | AT&T doesn't want to spend money they've already taken for
       | broadband infrastructure upgrades.
        
       | techmememe wrote:
       | Hardly! The rest of the world is 100Mbps+... stop lobbying
       | against much needed infrastructure.
        
         | danaris wrote:
         | But if they're required to actually spend money upgrading
         | infrastructure (outside of areas with mean income above $500k),
         | they won't be able to make the same kind of obscene profits
         | they do now.
        
       | pasttense01 wrote:
       | I think it would be great to have 10 Mbps uploads--unlike the 2
       | Mbps I currently have! [Luckily I have 25 Mbps downloads.]
        
         | datavirtue wrote:
         | We are stuck in a certain paradigm we can't even see our way
         | out of because upload speeds and access are so restrictive. We
         | need massive bandwidth more than ever to stem tide of unchecked
         | centralization and monopolistic platforms.
         | 
         | Imagine being able to serve 10000 streaming customers from your
         | home, free of the restrictions of youtube.
        
       | quickthrowman wrote:
       | T will aggressively protect its ability to pay out that *checks
       | notes* 6.8% dividend yield, building out infrastructure really
       | puts a dent in FCF. Not like their customers have a choice
       | anyways!
        
       | gdubs wrote:
       | Rural internet users keep getting shafted. It seems every time
       | there's hope on the horizon, the definition of broadband gets
       | shifted. I really hope this time is different.
       | 
       | To this argument in particular: the whole idea of providing
       | access to everyone is to level the playing field and _create
       | opportunities_. It's the promise of connectivity spurring
       | innovation, changing the landscape, etc.
        
         | WalterSear wrote:
         | Rural?
         | 
         | Your point is valid, but 10Mbps is the best I can get in San
         | Francisco.
        
       | datavirtue wrote:
       | "there is no compelling evidence that those expenditures are
       | justified over the service quality of a 50/10 or 100/20Mbps"
       | 
       | How is that for imagination and vision. Thank God it's not their
       | call.
       | 
       | It's forever youtube unless users can be empowered with the
       | ability to stream. Right now, the barrier to entry for streaming
       | is huge. Starting off small to prove a concept or boostrap a
       | streaming venture takes a lot of capital and knowledge. Simply
       | increasing upload bandwidth at the home will open up the
       | possibility of starting a business for many. These people have no
       | vision.
       | 
       | I'm sure someone else can think of another beneficial knock-on
       | effect or two beside users gaining the freedom to stream--
       | uncensored.
        
       | gtirloni wrote:
       | I live in a suburb in a medium city and can choose between at
       | least 4 different fiber providers. The situation in the US is
       | quite puzzling.
        
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       (page generated 2021-03-29 23:02 UTC)