We're Screwed. Supreme Court Rules....

[On Par]

...that "cable internet" providers, upholding the Bush FCC ruling, that they don't have to share, as they do with dial-up. This means it's less choice and higher prices for you and me.

With this administration, not exactly a shocker, is it?

[thinkingwoman]

1. I'm not screwed

I don't use cable for internet.

[Edgewater_Joe]

2. DSL Is Better, Anyway

More flexibility, far more secure, and you don't get that party-line slowdown thing you get when the kids get out of school at 3 like you do with cable modems.

Plus, I can tell SBC and Comcast to go Cheney themselves.

[Warpy]

4. It's cheaper, too

since you don't have to get the damn TV service to get the broadband internet service, something you have to do locally.

The downside is that a lot of people have cable service but are too far away from the cities to have adequate wiring for DSL. They're screwed.

[On Par]

6. Only If You Have DSL In YOUR Area!

If not, you're screwed. Currently we have only Comcast. Period. Pay or go back to dial-up.

[sunnystarr]

22. West Nashville doesn't have DSL ...

I was really surprised considering i'm like 70 somewhat blocks from the heart of downtown. So there must be many places that don't offer DSL.

[MsUSA]

18. My phone company handles our DSL connection and it isn't

cheap, but, because I have my phone, local and long distance and my DSL connection with them, I get money back at the end of the year!! I love my phone company, it small, local and most of all I get money back for being their customer. Does AT&T or any of the other huge conglomerates do that??? Plus we're getting digital in about one month. :) :thumbsup: :applause:

[Toots]

3. Most phone companies will offer broadband at less cost than cable

You can also get it from satellite. If anything it will hurt cable. People will find alternatives. Remember no matter what the issue there is always an alternative

[On Par]

9. Where's The Savings ? DSL Plus 2nd phone line = Same $

The DSL may be cheaper, but adding a 2nd line, you're right back up there.

[vivalarev]

13. You dont need a 2nd phone line for DSL....

it comes with filters that you put on your existing phone line. I use DSL, have only 1 line, and have had zero problems

[habitual]

16. Yep, DSL requires only your existing line.

no extra line is necessary.

[Toots]

23. No you only need one line

They offer what locally is referred to as "The Pipe" It is broadbandf on your phone line without tying up your phone. I am using it at this very moment. It is nice to be able to talk on the phone and visit the internet at the same time. It costs me $35. a month for the service and that is comparable to cable but with cable you have to buy cable TV as well and that is another twenty dollars a month just for first tier (thirteen channels). Satellite is cheaper for TV and the Pipe is cheaper for broadband.

[vi5]

5. Huh? So if I have cable internet connection what does this mean?

I don't get it.

[sunnystarr]

10. Sounds rto me like there is less competition meaning higher prices (nt)

[On Par]

12. Exactly. Comcast Buys Out Competitors & Sets Premium Price.

And they do it all with the Supreme Court's blessing. And just when you thought the price of oil was high.

[magellan]

7. Tough luck for us

Our only alternative is satellite, which is way more expensive than cable and goes out in heavy storms/overcast skies. Those conditions are frequent in Florida six months out of the year.

[madrchsod]

8. i have internet thru cable

and no tv. cheaper and better than my dsl line.

[On Par]

11. With Comcast, It's The Reverse.... $59 per month

If you don't take Comcast's analog TV Cable package, and only want hi-speed internet, they charge $59 per month.

[ChiciB1]

14. Are You Saying That Since I Have Comcast....

I'm screwed??? I'll go back to Earthlink then! I can't get DSL here yet, Comcast has Verizon covered in my area.

[On Par]

15. Let Me Try Again, With The Supreme Court Ruling.....

Cable companies now have a free reign over what to charge you in your area. There is NO competition permitted. As an example, Adelphia cannot come into a Comcast area, and visa versa. With only one carrier in a specified area, prices of Earthlink, Comcast, Adelphia, etc are going to spiral upward. It's a take it or leave it situation.

[ChiciB1]

17. YUK! Well, Guess I'll Just Have To Wait And See What They Do!

Knowing Comcast, the price will rise! I'm NOT crazy about them though, so I might just check out Earthlink. They're techs were always very helpful as opposed to the tehs from Comcast. They rarely give me good info. They tell me I need to contact Microsoft or the manufacturer of my PC!

[ElsewheresDaughter]

19. delete........opps wrong thread

[Politicub]

20. I ditched cable years ago

I had Dish Network for a while, and got rid of it when I discovered that I can get 8-10 channels in Atlanta by just using rabbit ears. That's more than enough for me. I have DSL for Internet service, and spend much more time online than I do watching Teevee.

[dannynyc]

21. I had cable and now have DSL

and, wish I had a cable modem.

I recently moved from NYC to Cleveland. In NYC I had a cable modem. I had fewer headaches with a cable modem than with a DSL line. In NYC some of my friends have Verizon DSL. On occasion, without any notice, my e-mail to them would bounce. The problem was with Verizon. I have noticed the same problem with SBC DSL.

Generally cable modems are faster than DSL. Although throughput can decrease when there's a lot of traffic on a cable circuit, I never experienced that. I've read several articles in tech magazines that a majority of people prefer cable modems to DSL lines.

A friend of mine in Cleveland has a cable modem and we were checking prices. The stated rate for a cable modem is more than a DSL line. But, through the magic of FCC regulations, DSL lines have all the taxes that telco's must charge. When taxes are considered, the two services cost about the same.

When the DSL contract is up for renewal I do plan to switch to a cable modem.