[governance] Are Internet users powerless or empowered, and how?

[Carlos Afonso]

Happy people, the Bulgarians in Sofia -- here in Rio, we have only two 
providers (one is the near-monopoly of cable TV controlled by Carlos 
Slim, the other is the regional telco private monopoly), like in the 
USA, limited to 8 Mb/s, at prices many times higher than in Western 
Europe. In state capitals in the Northern and Northeastern region, 
prices might be 200 times higher than in Western Europe, and in most of 
these capitals there is only one broadband provider, at speeds much 
lower than 8 Mb/s. Unbundling, although recommended by ANATEL, is 
opposed by the regional monopolies and of course does not exist.

To complete the "freedom of choice" picture, broadband providers in BR, 
all of them (Comcast included, which runs satellite services in BR -- 
see EFF's actions agains Comcast violations in the USA here: 
http://www.eff.org/press/archives/2007/11/28) practice all sorts of net 
neutrality violations.

So much for choice, like in the USA.... :(

--c.a.

Veni Markovski wrote:
> At 11:20 11/30/2007  -0800, Karl wrote:
> 
>> For example, yes, we users have great power in the marketplace to 
>> select ISP's and the like.
> 
> This sounds strange. At least in New York City there is a choice - 
> between cable Internet and Verizon. Both are at the same price, more or 
> less. Is this really a choice? Compare: in Sofia, Bulgaria you can 
> choose among about 20 big ISPs, and about 500 smaller  (true, in the 
> whole city, not each of them covers all of the buildings).
> In New York you can choose between "business" and "family" or something 
> like that plan. Speeds - up to 6Mbps. In Sofia - tens of plans, speeds - 
> up to 1000 Mbps. Prices - adequate: in New York City it is more 
> expensive than in Sofia. I call that a choice.
> 
> But, again, that is my own, non US-centric, point of view. Or, rather, 
> fact?
> 
> veni
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