AT&T/DirecTV Merger Approved By FCC, Net neutrality and more fiber

[jos]

 FCC approved the acquisition on the condition that the new company expand its fiber optic broadband Internet access service to 12.5 million new locations and agree to a few other items. The new conglomerate company is also prohibited from ostracizing video services such as Netflix from the same service everyone else receives. The company must disclose all information and comply with independent and external compliance officers who will report and monitor the company's activities to ensure these conditions are followed.

 

 

That is a good way of enforcing net neutrality

Source: http://www.tomshardware.com/news/fcc-approves-at-t-directv-merger,29673.html

[Chasem121]

Let's hope they actually expand rather than just not do it like they did back in the early 2000's.

[DarkBlade2117]

Well fiber is three cities away from me. Let's hope they decide to expand it to me

[EChondo]

I have AT&T U-Verse(75d/8u) and have DirecTV. It'll be interesting to see what happens over the next couple of months. Rumors have it that AT&T is dropping their U-VerseTV via cable and just doing satellite instead.

 

We might drop DirecTV, but we'll see how this plays out before.

[SirSquid]

Well fiber is three cities away from me. Let's hope they decide to expand it to me

sounds like a great reason to move three cities over.

[Trik'Stari]

I wish this would apply to my area, although deep down I know it won't

[linuxfan66]

As long as net neutrality does it job I have no complaints

[Trik'Stari]

They should have set a deadline of some kind for the fiber expansion. With a large fine if that deadline is violated.

 

That's one of the problems with government making this kind of deal, they never set anything that will guarantee the companies behave.

[DudeWazap]

I'm pretty sure that AT&T will still have their stupid data caps. Good thing this merger doesn't affect me.

[Yog]

That is a good way of enforcing net neutrality

Source: http://www.tomshardware.com/news/fcc-approves-at-t-directv-merger,29673.html

I suppose, but this sort of policy of allowing companies to expand further and further into a monopoly (or a duopoly in this case I suppose)  just leads to the type of corporatism you find in China where you have these giant companies that own the entire country and are controlled by the ruling political party.

[TroubleKlef]

inb4 they lay down fiber lines in the area  but don't actually install the infrastructure to allow consumers to use it.