SpiritedCamel_ t1_ixfgmz5 wrote on November 23, 2022 at 1:11 AM

Reply to comment by wallet535 in Should the state regulate Internet service pricing similar to utilities? by wallet535

The price of internet has fallen on average over the last 25 years. Yes, that's right, internet service has averaged nearly -1% inflation per year for 25 years.

Additionally, there are programs for low income households that help get internet for free or cheap (eg Affordable Connectivity Program).

So again, I disagree. While ISPs certainly aren't perfect, I think there are much bigger issues.

wallet535 OP t1_ixfjcvj wrote on November 23, 2022 at 1:33 AM

I appreciate your willingness to be like the only one in this thread to state an opposing view. I’m actually kinda surprised no one’s raised stifling innovation as an objection. I don’t have your sources but it’s plausible that Internet costs have declined over the years. But that’s not really the core question, which instead is: Have they declined as fast as they should have? Yes, the subsidies are helpful, but no, I don’t think they’re a complete solution, and yes, of course there are bigger fish to fry (e.g., climate change). Thanks again.

SpiritedCamel_ t1_ixfo89c wrote on November 23, 2022 at 2:12 AM

> Have they declined as fast as they should have?

I always find this thought experiment interesting. It's fun thinking about the path dependencies of tech and gov't policy.

In hindsight, it's quite clear to me that given where we are today with the current state of internet technology, it would have been beneficial for maximal government intervention. We'd probably have broader coverage, lower prices, and the fast speeds we're starting to see today would've been rolled out more quickly if the government just built it all itself.

But this is in hindsight, and doesn't necessarily apply to the future. It very well may be the case for the intermediate future, too, but I would generally bet on the (sort of) free market over long time horizons when it comes to things that aren't quite broken. Housing and health care and energy (for f*cks sake, can we just utilize the super high energy density of uranium already!) = badly broken. Internet = 👌🤷 pretty decent.