• Huge fine for AT&T over speed brakes
    10 replies, posted
[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-33183368#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa[/url]
Numbers time! $100m is 1/66 of their total profit ($6.6Bn) for the first quarter of this year. They make, on average, 22 times this fine in pure profit per month. This is a worthless fine.
[QUOTE=woolio1;47998616]Numbers time! $100m is 1/66 of their total profit ($6.6Bn) for the first quarter of this year. They make, on average, 22 times this fine in pure profit per month. This is a worthless fine.[/QUOTE] 100 million dollars is still a shitload of money, even if it is only a small fraction of their total profits. The point of fines isn't to put them out of business, it's a slap on the wrist and a warning that there will be more to come if they don't comply.
[QUOTE=micrococonut;48004888]100 million dollars is still a shitload of money, even if it is only a small fraction of their total profits. The point of fines isn't to put them out of business, it's a slap on the wrist and a warning that there will be more to come if they don't comply.[/QUOTE]If they can shrug off the fine that easily it doesn't really do what it's intended to do, though.
[QUOTE=TestECull;48007897]If they can shrug off the fine that easily it doesn't really do what it's intended to do, though.[/QUOTE] It's money they don't get, all we need to do is make it it more expensive to be dicks, than to provide good service.
[QUOTE=TestECull;48007897]If they can shrug off the fine that easily it doesn't really do what it's intended to do, though.[/QUOTE] Look at 1/66th of your monthly income, you probably spend more than that on useless shit like crisps or soda.
[QUOTE=Crimor;48009417]Look at 1/66th of your monthly income, you probably spend more than that on useless shit like crisps or soda.[/QUOTE] 1/66th quarterly income, that's 3 months, but your point still stands.
[QUOTE=Crimor;48009417]Look at 1/66th of your monthly income, you probably spend more than that on useless shit like crisps or soda.[/QUOTE] Yeah, and a fine that pathetic wouldn't even register as a punishment. Fines just do not work if they're so laughably small that it can be shrugged off. In order for a fine to be effective it has to have a serious impact on one's finances, whether that be a driver getting a speeding ticket or an ISP getting...well, the exact opposite of a speeding ticket. ATT can shrug off this fine, they will shrug off this fine, and I won't be surprised when we hear about them continuing to throttle under a new name/facade. Some sort of justification, say 'But FCC, mah network's congeeessttteeeeeddddd'.
[QUOTE=micrococonut;48004888]100 million dollars is still a shitload of money, even if it is only a small fraction of their total profits. The point of fines isn't to put them out of business, it's a slap on the wrist and a warning that there will be more to come if they don't comply.[/QUOTE] I'm sure $100m falls into the category of 'Acceptable Risks' for AT&T, Especially given that the risk here has been playing out for years earning far more than $100m over time, anyway, what with not having to upgrade and have the capacity for everyone and maintain it when they can just clamp their speeds down
[QUOTE=TestECull;48011085]Yeah, and a fine that pathetic wouldn't even register as a punishment. Fines just do not work if they're so laughably small that it can be shrugged off. In order for a fine to be effective it has to have a serious impact on one's finances, whether that be a driver getting a speeding ticket or an ISP getting...well, the exact opposite of a speeding ticket. ATT can shrug off this fine, they will shrug off this fine, and I won't be surprised when we hear about them continuing to throttle under a new name/facade. Some sort of justification, say 'But FCC, mah network's congeeessttteeeeeddddd'.[/QUOTE] Well maybe AT&T should use all that dosh to upgrade their network instead of bitching, that's the logical solution. Oh wait, I keep forgetting this is AT&T. They are nothing but scumbags. I still have the urge to go to their HQ and drop a MOAB on it. Or firebomb it. Or make a public execution of their CEO and shareholders as an example. (Yes, I hate AT&T that much)
Yeah it would be nice if they did that, but they're not going to.
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