[AusNOG] ACCC pushes for consumer internet speed test, telcos aren't keen on the idea

[ausftth at mail.com]

The ACCC's speed test is a gift that just keeps on giving. Since the list has been singing Conroy's praises lately, it is only fitting that he should have his say:

“Absolutely,” Conroy said, when asked whether Labor would support the ACCC’s initiative. “I think there is nothing more important than being able to get the speed you pay for. When I was the Minister I supported the ACCC launching it.”

“The industry totally opposes this. The industry has always been embarrassed that it hasn’t delivered the speeds that it’s promised. So the ACCC should insist that it is part of the monitoring process so that Australians will know that what they’re paying for is what they get – because Mr Turnbull’s copper network can’t deliver the speeds that he’s promising.”

If nothing else, you've got to hand it to the man, he knows the opportunity for good political theatre when he sees it: present yourself as the champion of the average man, put forth the Obvious Right Thing to Do that Sounds Very Good(tm) which does nothing to address the root cause, watch the uninformed nod their heads in agreement, score political points without any political cost, pat yourself on the back and go along on your merry way. 

Besides the obvious cheap shots at Turnbull and the MTM, bonus points for the tinfoil hat theory that "the industry actually teamed up with Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull to hide the “true speeds” that Turnbull’s version of the National Broadband Network would deliver". 

I can only say: "Well done, sir, well done."

It is truly heartwarming that these are the best and the brightest minds responsible for influencing and guiding our courty's future. 

Now, should the ACCC's designs come to pass, the law of unintended consequences will ensure that what was meant to foster vibrant competition, low prices and fast speeds will turn to consolidation, high costs and slow speeds. 

Anybody running at subscale will have to either raise prices to match rising costs, lower headline speeds to match actual performance or exit the market. On the upside there will be less confusion when trying to pick an ISP, you'll actually get what it says on the tin and your wallet won't be so heavy to lug around anymore. 

Then again, maybe this was the the intended end result all along...

I look forward to the joy of everybody coming to terms with the NBN being more expensive and slower than what we had all along. 

Source: http://delimiter.com.au/2015/09/14/telcos-embarrassed-to-admit-real-broadband-speeds-says-conroy/


Jared