Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Report: Broadband Too Expensive For Many

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the what's-it-really-worth dept.

An anonymous submitter writes "This AP article, citing a study from the U.S. Commerce Department, reports that "Almost all U.S. families live in areas where a high-speed Internet connection is available, but many see no compelling reason to pay extra for it." The article mentions a survey that found that "more than 70 percent of dial-up users cited cost as the main reason they aren't upgrading to faster access."" It's much like digital cable - the cable networks ratch up the price for...music channels? But broadband is a chicken - egg problem. You won't get people signing up until they see a reason, and you won't get compelling reasons until more people have signed up.

6 of 539 comments (clear)

  1. Broadband cost by murcon · · Score: 2, Offtopic

    Digital cable made inroads around me when they started offering free installation and 3 months at a reduced rate. (Of course, after three months in our house where the only show that got serious attention was "Farscape", we determined that even that wasn't worth the full price, and we disconnected.) So maybe DSL and cable providers should look at making the first few months the same cost as dial-up, just to get people to try it.

    1. Re:Broadband cost by DeadSea · · Score: 3, Offtopic
      I tried digital cable and it was far worse.
      1. The worst offender was the time that it takes to change channels. Digital takes almost half a second where my analog is almost instantaneous.
      2. The picture quality wasn't improved. In fact, I noticed significant mpeg like artifacts especially right after you changed the channel.
      3. The programming was almost the same. I never used any of the extra channels I got.
      4. I needed a cable box, but the analog plugs directly into my tv and tivo.
      With digital, channel surfing was nearly impossible because of the channel change lag, and that was my biggest reason for switching back to analog.
  2. NO SHIT! by unicron · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Lemme get this straight: The cost of something being too high is a main factor stopping someone from buying it? What a crazy world we live in!

    remember, this post != trolling.

    --
    Finally, math books without any of that base 6 crap in them.
  3. Re:And you must be on AOL. by Scratch-O-Matic · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    NICE!

    5'10, 160lb.

    --


    Evil is the money of root.
  4. Re:And you must be on AOL. by swillden · · Score: 1, Offtopic
    Come try my 5k, the one I do on my lunch hour. It includes 4000 feet of vertical elevation change. And starts at 6000 feet above sea level.

    I'll bury you.

    --
    Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
  5. Re:And you must be on AOL. by John+Harrison · · Score: 1, Offtopic
    My calculations give a much smaller number than 50 degrees. I am wondering where you start at though. The valley is below 5000 ft. Lake is at what, between 4200 and 4300? Also 4000 ft of elevation change isn't the same as 4000 ft of elevation gain. Do you mean gain? If you do then the average incline, assuming 5k round trip, is about 25 degrees. If you meant 2000 ft of gain, then your angle is only 13 degrees.

    I miss the mountains.

    --
    Lasers Controlled Games!