The Alternative Facts of Cable Companies

We have all seen this pattern in the past few years:

Although the FCC in 2015 relabeled high-speed internet access as a regulated product, neither it nor state commissions have actually required particular levels of consumer service or reasonable prices.

But in order to avoid anyone getting the idea that oversight might be a good idea, Charter and Comcast have to uphold the fiction that their service is getting better and better in response to trumpeted “competition”—even if there isn’t any actual rival anywhere around. If everyone believes that services are improving, then there’s no need for government intervention.

That’s why Spectrum’s marketing and management teams let loose with ads claiming that consumers would get new X internet data speeds — “fast, reliable internet speeds.” The branding people went nuts, using adjectives like Turbo, Extreme, and Ultimate for the company’s highest-speed 200 or 300 Mbps download offerings.

But no one, or very few people, could actually experience those speeds.

The NY AG is calling Charter/TWC/Spectrum out on their fraudulent BS:

As the New York attorney general’s office puts it, “Spectrum relentlessly touted consistently fast internet speeds and reliable access to online content to solicit and retain subscribers. However, in reality, Spectrum-TWC knowingly failed to deliver on such promises.”

Hold their feet to the fire, Eric Schneiderman!

And all you other state AG's out there, take note and follow suit.