Message-ID: <208b24c0-3ca5-df33-188b-e4fa4b256d86@ionary.com> Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2017 09:34:46 -0400 From: Fred Goldstein <invalid@see.sig.telecom-digest.org> Subject: Re: Verizon accused of violating net neutrality rules by throttling video > The Federal Communications Commission should investigate whether > Verizon Wireless violated net neutrality rules by throttling video > applications on its mobile network, advocacy group Free Press says. Puh-Leez, Verizon Wireless, will you please throttle any videos that come to my phone? Even though the plan I'm on doesn't charge for overage, it does have a fixed limit before it lowers my speed to something well below whatever is needed for video. I could buy a bigger plan but I'm perfectly happy where I am. What possible use could I have for a 10 Mbps video stream to my 2 1/2" wide screen, or even the 5" screen that some other phones have? HD makes some sense for 42" and larger TV sets, though my 42" 720p set looks as sharp as any from any sane viewing distance. Higher resolution uses a LOT more capacity. Optimizing video to fit the phone is highly pro-consumer. They should make it the default with an opt-out for those who insist. These "public interest" groups have turned religious about a fake Internet that never existed, one where all packets are treated equally and yet spammers and DDoSers somehow don't clutter things. It's a way to raise money, not to improve usefulness. Netflix is relatively smart. It adapts its video coding automatically to what it perceives as available capacity. Some other streamers don't, and in so doing crowd out other content while not delivering the high quality they pretend to be. -- Fred R. Goldstein k1io fred "at" ionary.com

Message-ID: <20170729150846.GA5858@telecom.csail.mit.edu> Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2017 11:08:46 -0400 From: Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net> Subject: CenturyLink customer angered over unauthorized accounts By Dave Cherry PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) - A Phoenix woman says CenturyLink opened up three accounts in her name for the same in-home internet service. Her experience mirrors allegations laid out in a recent legal action. CBS 5 News has previously reported that CenturyLink faces a class-action lawsuit after a former employee accused CenturyLink of firing her for reporting unlawful billing practices to the company. The allegations included, among other things, charging customers for services they never received and creating fake customer accounts. CenturyLink says the allegations are inconsistent with company policy and culture and they're vigorously investigating. http://www.azfamily.com/story/35943437/centurylink-customer-angered-over-unauthorized-accounts -- Bill Horne (Remove QRM from my email address to write to me directly)

Message-ID: <20170729150525.GA5822@telecom.csail.mit.edu> Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2017 11:05:25 -0400 From: Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net> Subject: AT&T executives to run combined company after Time Warner deal AT&T said on Friday that its executives will head its media and wireless businesses following the close of its $85.4 billion acquisition of Time Warner. As of August 1, John Stankey, who currently leads DirecTV and other entertainment businesses for the No. 2 U.S. wireless carrier, will lead the team charged with Time Warner's integration before transitioning to chief executive of the media business once the merger is complete. John Donovan, currently chief strategy officer, has been named chief executive of AT&T Communications, which will include AT&T's wireless and DirecTV businesses. https://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/28/att-executives-to-run-combined-company-after-time-warner-deal.html -- Bill Horne (Remove QRM from my email address to write to me directly)

Message-ID: <oli9a6$j9b$1@dont-email.me> Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2017 11:27:55 -0400 From: Bill Horne <hornew193@horne.biz> Subject: One by One, Verizon M&A Rumors Aren't Working Out Comcast as a buyer? It doesn't like wireless that much. By Tara Lachapelle Everyone loves a good megadeal rumor, but it's time to move on from this one: Comcast Corp. and Verizon Communications Inc. probably aren't getting together. It's the latest in a series of M&A ideas involving cable providers, wireless carriers and TV programmers - all because AT&T Inc. struck a deal last year to buy Time Warner Inc. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-28/comcast-buying-verizon-it-doesn-t-like-wireless-that-much Bill Horne -- Remove QRM from my email address to write to me directly