• michaelmrose@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Inexpensive internet plans are sold with speeds up to $SPEED. This isn’t fraud. More expensive plans are available which either provide $SPEED at all times and others which provide an objective target level of service. The fact that people universally prefer inexpensive up to $SPEED plans is not shocking either.

    You cannot legally seize these companies and render them public utilities under current law.

    • conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works
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      2 months ago

      I’m aware of how they’re attempting to normalize their deception.

      “Up to” is always fraud. No gray areas and no exceptions. If you put a speed on an ad, not providing at any point is not acceptable.

      You absolutely can take the lines through the exact same eminent domain that was required for them to exist in the first place. You can pay with the fines for ever single customer they falsely advertised to, which doesn’t need new laws. Fine print doesn’t validate deceptive practices, and the whole point of the big giant numbers is to pretend that’s what you’re selling them. Or for failing to meet their contractual obligations for all the various other handouts they received for the sole purpose of providing broadband to everyone and didn’t bother doing for 100 years.