More whining from "Whiny Techies" at SaveTheInternet

The charge that many supporters of net neutrality were economically illiterate by Washington Post's lead business columnist Steve Pearlstein in "Whiny Techies II" a few weeks ago which I posted on, prompted more whining from Tim Karr of FreePress/SaveTheInternet Coalition in a Letter to the Editor.

• Karr: "Supporters of net neutrality aren't asking that users pay one fee for all grades of access. We want a truly competitive marketplace where people can choose from numerous broadband companies offering access at different speeds and costs."

Let's have some fun un-packing Mr. Karr's disingenuousness.

• "Supporters of net neutrality aren't asking that users pay one fee for all grades of access."
  • Then why do you continue to oppose a "two-tier Internet? Or continue to harp on not allowing there to be a "slow lane on the information superhighway?"
    • Could it be that you understand how ludicrous it is to oppose a "tiered Internet" when most every consumer understands that their is a slow lane tier called "dial-up" which millions of Americans still choose to use, and that there are many different prices for different broadband speeds available, and also that people know they can get free broadband at selected WiFi hotspots like Starbucks?
• "We want a truly competitive marketplace..."
  • Then why do you want to regulate broadband and the Internet with net neutrality common carrier like regulation?
    • What part of "truly competitive" involves common carrier regulation which limits competition?
• "where people can choose from numerous broadband companies offering access at different speeds and costs."
  • Open your eyes Mr. Karr. The US has more real broadband facilities competition than any other nation in the world!
  • De-regulation has led to more investment in broadband facilities in the US than any other Nation in the world.
  • American consumers have more broadband facility choice than consumers anywhere else:
    • cable modems at different prices and speeds;
    • DSL at different prices/speeds;
    • satellite broadband at different prices/speeds;
    • At least five national wireless broadband options at different prices/speeds.
  • At what point will you acknowledge there already is a lot of competition and variety of choices for most consumers to choose from? 

Bottomline: SaveTheInternet does not believe in the benefits of broadband competition. What they really want is a regulated broadband market.