[–] derram 0 points 4 points 4 points (+4|-0) ago
Time Warner Cable sued by New York on behalf of League of Legends, Netflix customers - Polygon
'Once Netflix and Riot Games agreed to pay Spectrum for access to its customers, performance improved. '
'New York’s attorney general Eric T. Schneiderman says that Time Warner Cable defrauded consumers by providing internet service that was much slower than advertised. '
'First, Schneiderman maintains that Spectrum leased internet modems and wireless routers that it knew were incapable of providing the advertised speeds. '
'Schneiderman is seeking damages on behalf of hundreds of thousands of consumers who experienced poor performance generally, and specifically with regard to Netflix streaming services and Riot’s flagship League of Legends game. '
'The claim hinges on data from both Netflix and Riot Games. '
[–] bikergang_accountant 2 points 3 points 5 points (+5|-2) ago (edited ago)
A couple things on this.
Gave services much slower than advertized... That's a valid suit.
Failed to upgrade it's own services while negotiating contracts... They can upgrade their services at what ever fucking pace they want. It's called their property.
Company worked in secret to confuse FCC... Do they have a warrent. I didn't know we need government agencies approving every contract we negotiate.
This is some John Galt shit.
[–] CrustyBeaver52 0 points 9 points 9 points (+9|-0) ago
Since the governments claim control over the entire telecommunications spectrum - and they also grant companies service monopolies ( a special economic privilege,) within that spectrum, the government also has a legal duty to oversee the operations of the service providers, to ensure acceptable public standards are met. This is normally not an issue.
However, when you get regimes such as the Obama admin, who make themselves susceptible to regulatory capture (see bribery,) then the entire administrative framework breaks down, because the enforcement agency, the government, then becomes a protection racket for the criminals... to the detriment of the public. Classic mafia tactics.
However, now this opens the door for customers to sue the FCC directly for failure to police the system. Because the FCC claims enforcement authority over the spectrum - they also receive the ultimate legal responsibility to see the job is done. Effectively, the buck must now stop at the FCC. So the FCC will be forced to step in, and they might deservedly toss Time Warner to the wolves - but I doubt that will happen.
[–] NorBdelta 0 points 9 points 9 points (+9|-0) ago
Good, the state sanctioned monopolies such ISPs have over entire cities is unacceptable.