[martinald]

The real problem is that the telecoms companies (AT&T and Verizon in most areas) aren't putting up any competition at all.

AT&Ts UVerse VDSL rollout is flawed (the cabinets are generally too far from customers premises), so speeds are too slow. Verizon has given up with further significant FiOS rollout.

I don't really think this matters too much. TWC and Charter serve different areas, so there is no real change in competition. You could argue maybe there is some changes in bids for content, or perhaps peering and transit, but I think the much more important thing is getting a competitor on the ground.

Everywhere Google Fiber has rolled out (or even said they may roll out) has seen huge service improvements from the incumbents. Instead of bickering over these merges, there should be more thought on how to get more Google Fibers out there.

[mmanfrin]

Seriously -- you'd think with that $60billion in acquisition costs, they could just instead plow that in to increasing coverage and service; but to do that would upset the tranquil waters of telecom oligopoly.

[click170]

What I don't get is that the genie is out of the bottle now. Google fiber exists and the more areas they roll out to where the encumbamts only bump service after the fact only further demonstrates the point that they don't give a shit about servicing their customers, they care about charging them for speeds that don't improve until competition forces their hand.

Is their plan to literally sacrifice their reputation for a few short term profits?

[markdown]

Sadly, you over-estimate the length of the memory of the masses. They forget very quickly, and will not consider "this company fucked me over for years" if the company currently offers them the best deal.

Sad fact.