Technology

I don’t know if this AT&T service covered all of NY but for sake of my point I’m going to assume it covers most to all of NY. Obviously, not everyone would subscribe to AT&T either. I’m generalizing a bit to make a point.

There are approx 8.5 mil households in NY and 1.7 mil qualified for the previous affordable broadband law (couldn’t find an exact number for this current law).

If they charge $60 for the service that’s a potential total of $512,000,000 for NY.

If 1.7 mil get broadband for $15 that’s $25,500,000.

So AT&T is willing to give up a potential $487,000,00 from all other NY customers just to spite low income families.

Note: this is income before any AT&T expenses, just to be clear and fair.

Edit I was clear or the article wasn’t clear.

1. ATT is pulling 5G service from existing customers. They were given a 45 day window to find a new provider. I’m not talking about new construction.

2. they are not obligated to provide fiber at $15. Only broadband. I know there are still expenses with that, but there is much more broadband already available than fiber.

I don't see what the issue is here. They don't want to be treated as a utility, but if they stay in New York, they'll be regulated as a utility. They've dealt with it as a phone provider, and choose not to engage in the regulatory environment being put in front of them. It's a totally reasonable choice for a business to walk away from a market if the cost of doing business would exceed the profits made.

Sounds like it's time for a municipal broadband solution. If AT&T doesn't want the business, fine. Let's not force them to take our money.

So, all those lines are leased to at&t by the state right? I feel like they could just revoke them and give everyone free Internet.

Looks like a monopoly to me. That’s practically admitting that they believe consumers don’t have sufficient choice, and they’d rather not compete.

These predatory companies make such a huff, like an abusive partner storming out while shouting "you don't know what you're missing!"

We do know, and we'll be fine. 👋

Interesting, so it seems because ATT doesn't have fiber already setup in NY that they're pulling out. If more states did this, they probably wouldn't be able to handle pulling out, financially.

I remember when the US government paid AT&T to get fiber to the curb of American homes.

Then AT&T didn't. And then the US sued AT&T to get the money back and into the hands of US Americans. Wireless internet is an end-around having to fulfill those promises of a wide bandwidth future. And here is the evidence for that.