[opendtv] Re: Bundling and competition
- From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 12 Sep 2013 22:11:06 +0000
Craig Birkmaier wrote:
> What difference does it make? I say "a wire that delivers streams of
> broadband data to your TV," Bert says "All I need for my (fixed) TV is
> a broadband connection to the Internet."
>
> And it is also clear that to get this broadband connection Bert must
> tie his TV to "that monopolistic infrastructure," be it the local
> cable company or telco.
Aaargh. If I must depend on one or maybe at best two cabled options for any
broadband service, you would be correct. However at least IN PRINCIPLE (if not
yet in fact), multiple wireless 4G operators could compete in any given
location. Which would remove the monopoly aspect. OTA TV does this with TV. No
monopoly. Multiple services to choose from, and no house calls needed to boot.
Ergo, the wireless option, when it is viable (enough bandwidth available etc.),
is clearly the best way to go. Whether fixed or mobile, wireless can easily
remove the monopolistic element. So, no reason to differentiate between fixed
and mobile.
> The major difference here is that we pay for the bits we use with
> wireless broadband, while we pay for the pipe when we get wired
> broadband to the home;
Even that varies. For 3G, we pay both for the service and for "bits we use."
And cabled systems are talking about caps, with additional charges if you
exceed a certain limit.
> Can you please explain the difference between tuning to a broadcast
> channel via an integrated ATSC tuner or your cable/DBS remote?
Since you're so inflexibly tied to cable systems, think of it like having a
separate cable company for every program you watch over cable. If the cable
company that transmits your ABC programs asks for a big fee increase, this
doesn't affect the cable company that sends you CBS shows. Or, if the cable
company that transmits the PBS programs dies for some reason, you only lose the
PBS shows. All those other "cable companies" that send you the other
programming don't depend on that same pipe. That's what OTA does. Separate
pipes. (Yes, in markets where all broadcasters use the same tower, this might
be slightly less true. Although they still each have their own transmitters and
entennas, typically.)
Get it? There's no single organization that can act as an obstacle to all your
TV programming.
Bert
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