Virginia ISP Uses its Monopoly to Lock Customers into 75 YEAR Contracts: Sues Everyone when FCC Says - Polidicks

[quote]With help from a local developer, OpenBand apparently convinced a lot of communities to sign exclusive franchise agreements that ran for between [B]25 to 75 years[/B]. While users in these developments could sign up for other TV or broadband services, they still had to pay the $150 monthly association fee to OpenBand.[/quote] [URL]http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130312/21045122305/virginia-isp-locks-customers-into-25-75-year-contracts-sues-everybody-when-monopoly-threatened.shtml?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter[/URL] So glad for anti-monopoly laws.

I love my state. Wait, [I]no I don't.[/I]

What in the fuck? 75 years?!

Wtf, they can murder whoever came up with this idea and their jailtime would still be lower than this contract

They're obviously bitter because everyone else picked pieces first and they had to play as the thimble

I've had to drive through Virginia a few times. That state scares me. Crossing the state line, there was a massive, several stories tall shiny cross. And on the otherside of the road was a big pentagram painted on the side of a barn. There are numerous information signs on the highways that talk about exits that don't exist, or when they do, talk about things that aren't at those exits. There is a massive list of things that make Virginia scary.

Shit, and I thought our 3 year cellphone contracts were bad.

Ha, Virginia is so fucked up, but to be fair I haven't heard of OpenBand, maybe they are in the mountains? Wow their website is incredable! [URL]http://www.openband.net/res/res.html[/URL]

[img]http://www.openband.net/images/pics/pic45.jpg[/img] haha phone u so funy

[QUOTE=Tucan Sam;39911133]Ha, Virginia is so fucked up, but to be fair I haven't heard of OpenBand, maybe they are in the mountains? Wow their website is incredable! [URL]http://www.openband.net/res/res.html[/URL][/QUOTE] Love the slogan. "Ein Network. Ein Service Provider. Ein Fuhrer."

speaking of ISPs and monopolies, my city is attempting to sue Comcast and petition the FCC over its ungodly high rates

[QUOTE=Doctor Zedacon;39911106]I've had to drive through Virginia a few times. That state scares me. Crossing the state line, there was a massive, several stories tall shiny cross. And on the otherside of the road was a big pentagram painted on the side of a barn. There are numerous information signs on the highways that talk about exits that don't exist, or when they do, talk about things that aren't at those exits. There is a massive list of things that make Virginia scary.[/QUOTE] I hope this is sarcasm

[QUOTE=Tucan Sam;39911133] Wow their website is incredable! [URL]http://www.openband.net/res/res.html[/URL][/QUOTE] It looks like a site from the late 90s or early 2000s that the never changed.

[QUOTE=Rent-a-BoxHouse;39911307][img]http://www.openband.net/images/pics/pic45.jpg[/img] haha phone u so funy[/QUOTE] I think it'd be more like "hahah wait are you serious about that contract?" then the next picture is them being sad.

This is the natural end state of capitalism, NOT competition. In a long enough timescale, somebody always gets big enough to force everyone else out and avoid ever having to compete again. Without strong consumer protection and anti-monopoly laws (and a government willing to use them), this is what Americans have to look forward to for the future. Shittier service, constant price hikes, and no alternatives.

[QUOTE=Rent-a-BoxHouse;39911307][IMG]http://www.openband.net/images/pics/pic45.jpg[/IMG] haha phone u so funy[/QUOTE] Looks like a Sony cordless phone our family had in the 90s. They are pretty damn happy to be using it though.

[QUOTE=The golden;39911957]Unfortunately the consumers in many industries actively promote and support monopolies. I assume it's mostly out of ignorance as many people have no idea why a monopoly is bad for them and the things they enjoy.[/QUOTE] A monopoly that isn't an ass is a good thing. But most companies get greedy when they're put in that position. It's like "Oh it only costs us $5 to provide each person with service since we don't have to advertise much or anything like that, but instead of charging them $10-$15, let's charge them $80. Can you imagine how many Lambos I could buy with that?"

[QUOTE=Forumaster;39911991]A monopoly that isn't an ass is a good thing. But most companies get greedy when they're put in that position. It's like "Oh it only costs us $5 to provide each person with service since we don't have to advertise much or anything like that, but instead of charging them $10-$15, let's charge them $80. Can you imagine how many Lambos I could buy with that?"[/QUOTE] The problem is, there is no monopoly that is checked. They never sit back and ask themselves, "Are we charging a fair price?" They sit back and say, "Well we are the only ones offering it so we decide the price." There has to be competition to bring in better services.

[QUOTE=Tucan Sam;39911133]Ha, Virginia is so fucked up, but to be fair I haven't heard of OpenBand, maybe they are in the mountains? Wow their website is incredable! [URL]http://www.openband.net/res/res.html[/URL][/QUOTE] This reminds me of my username.com [url]http://kendra.com/[/url] $14/m for 56k dialup in 2013, anyone wanna chip-in?

[QUOTE=Squad;39912343]The problem is, there is no monopoly that is checked. They never sit back and ask themselves, "Are we charging a fair price?" They sit back and say, "Well we are the only ones offering it so we decide the price." There has to be competition to bring in better services.[/QUOTE] There are legal monopolies such as those that provide power and water, and they're (supposedly) not allowed to go powermad.

[QUOTE=Kendra;39912358]This reminds me of my username.com [url]http://kendra.com/[/url] $14/m for 56k dialup in 2013, anyone wanna chip-in?[/QUOTE] Thats almost worth getting as an absolute backup internet service for any place with a modem card and phone service, unless there is a cheaper one elsewhere. In fact I'm certain that my father maintains a 56k line subscription purely for that purpose. As an absolute doomsday scenario backup system. [editline]14th March 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Forumaster;39912370]There are legal monopolies such as those that provide power and water, and they're (supposedly) not allowed to go powermad.[/QUOTE] Thats because there isn't really any sense in competition for power and water as power is power and water is... water. They're utilities, there's 1 tier because its a flat, standard service. Competition wouldn't really make sense for utilities. "Our power is... more powerful, and you'll notice... your... lights are 2x as light-er than the leading power companies power" "call now and we'll double our offer, 2 power for the price of 1"

[QUOTE=S31-Syntax;39912897]Thats almost worth getting as an absolute backup internet service for any place with a modem card and phone service, unless there is a cheaper one elsewhere. In fact I'm certain that my father maintains a 56k line subscription purely for that purpose. As an absolute doomsday scenario backup system. [editline]14th March 2013[/editline] Thats because there isn't really any sense in competition for power and water as power is power and water is... water. They're utilities, there's 1 tier because its a flat, standard service. Competition wouldn't really make sense for utilities. "Our power is... more powerful, and you'll notice... your... lights are 2x as light-er than the leading power companies power" "call now and we'll double our offer, 2 power for the price of 1"[/QUOTE] Well it's not that dry cut. One company might invest in better infrastructure, reducing the possibility of brownouts and blackouts or they might have a larger fleet of response workers in case a transformer or substation explodes. But when you think about the logistics of having multiple sets of power lines and sewage pipes, yes it is exceedingly pointless.

As a person living in virginia for his entire life, I have never heard of OpenBand.

Aren't some infrastructure that provide basic needs like electricity and water usually funded by the government?

[QUOTE=The golden;39912064]Monopolies are never a good thing.[/QUOTE] This isn't true. Monopolies are a good thing* in industries with enormous fixed cost. Many types of specialized manufacturing fit this bill. You can have lower prices with one or two large firms compared to dozens of smaller ones. *with the stipulation that they are adequately regulated.

[QUOTE=nomad1;39913887]Aren't some infrastructure that provide basic needs like electricity and water usually funded by the government?[/QUOTE] Water and sewage for the most part. Electricity is usually private companies with "government oversight."

[QUOTE=nomad1;39913887]Aren't some infrastructure that provide basic needs like electricity and water usually funded by the government?[/QUOTE] It's an ISP, which doesn't really fall under the same category as electricity or water.

[QUOTE=Doctor Zedacon;39911106]I've had to drive through Virginia a few times. That state scares me. Crossing the state line, there was a massive, several stories tall shiny cross. And on the otherside of the road was a big pentagram painted on the side of a barn. There are numerous information signs on the highways that talk about exits that don't exist, or when they do, talk about things that aren't at those exits. There is a massive list of things that make Virginia scary.[/QUOTE] I love my state. :smile:

[QUOTE=TMBGFan;39914881]It's an ISP, which doesn't really fall under the same category as electricity or water.[/QUOTE] It should, in this day and age the internet is as essential as power and water.

[QUOTE=Kuro.;39918534]It should, in this day and age the internet is as essential as power and water.[/QUOTE] Water and sewage are far more critical. You need them for basic living needs and sanitation. While it wouldn't be easy, you could live without electricity and Internet.