this is the most critical time to be concerns about antitrust issues. because cable companies , satelite are now battling DSL for netoworks. Hulu, Amazon, Netflix are starting to become viable alternatives to cabl and the phone companies have dsl and their own ability to provide tv.
You have networks like foxsportsgo that require a tv provider to work as well as other networks such as amc etc.
this isnt about marketshare its about network contracts and affiliations and network , sports broadcasting rights. dont forget Comcast and Time warner both offer phone service.
the more damaging consequence of the cable monopoly is in broadband Internet access, where the power of the cable firms' monopolies is magnified by the lack of practical alternatives to their Internet services. Yes, you can buy DSL Internet connectivity from your local telephone company. In some places, you can buy fiber-optic connectivity, also from a phone company (
Verizon or AT&T). But DSL service is typically much slower than cable service and is geographically constrained even within service districts. (The further you are from a DSL connection box, or "central office," the crummier your signal.)
Verizon has ended its rollout of its FiOS fiber service; if your neighborhood doesn't have it now, it's not getting it. AT&T says it's still rolling out its Uverse fiber service, but hardly at a light-speed pace.
http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-monopoly-20140213,0,867041.story#ixzz2tG9k8EX7
this article go on to mention Google fiber service which is gonna be offered in a few select cities. in these markets AT&T has increased its dsl speed but not anywhere. this kind of merger with two cable companies that already dominate the markets they serve individually will have even a larger area devoid of competition.
The United States in general is lacking in internet speeds. What is needed is more competition not less.
http://gigaom.com/2013/11/15/data-cap-2013/
internet providers that are cable companies are directly competing against themselves with the advent of streaming digital providers cable providers are finidng new ways to make the transition to no cable cost prohibitive in the form of data caps.
Americans pay more for less in the internet market.. this doesnt help
