osewalrus (osewalrus) wrote,
osewalrus
osewalrus

CBS crosses a line, so I smacks them, or I Practice Treebeard Politics

For those not following the CBS v. TWC blackout, the question for me is not "who is right" but "public policy is about protecting consumers, not about resolving industry food fights."

So when CBS crosses the line and blocks all TWC broadband subscribers (regardless of whether they are in the relevant markets or even have TWC as their cable provider) from accessing content on CBS.com. I smacks them hard, with more smackings to follow.

Annoyingly, this gets translated by some as my being on TWC's "side" -- despite the fact that I have never hesitated to smack around cable operators for their anti-consumer conduct. My response is that what consumers need to be saying is not "CBs is right" or "TWC is right" but "Congress and FCC, you created this mess with a web of laws and a failure to enforce relevant protections -- so FIX IT!" Or, as I like to say, Treebeard Politics.

"I am not altogether on anyone's side because nobody is altogether on my side, if you understand me. . . . And there are some things, of course, whose side I am altogether not on; I am against them altogether." -- Treebeard, The Two Towers

So too here. I am not altogether on either CBS' side or TWC's side. But there are some things i am against altogether -- notably abusing consumers and using them as pawns in industry food fights.

Time to rouse the Shire.
Before commenting, first read this three year old blog post for necessary background.
tales-of-the-sausage-factory.wetmachine.com/the-foxcablevision-retrans-mess-and-fcc-learned-helpness-the-insanely-long-version/
Subscribe

  • Post a new comment

    Error

    Anonymous comments are disabled in this journal

    default userpic

    Your IP address will be recorded 

  • 0 comments