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story category Tough Economy? Consumers Will Keep Broadband
High-speed Internet becomes utility as TV gets the heave-ho....
11:16AM Saturday Oct 04 2008 by Karl Bode
tags: business · bandwidth
According to the latest data by Jupiter Research, consumers impacted by an economic downturn will trim movies and TV from their budgets long before they trim broadband. Speaking to broadband's shift toward necessary utility and away from luxury service, only 2% surveyed by the firm would trim broadband in tough economic times, while 12% would trim premium cable channels. "It is noteworthy that broadband has reached this core status, joining the list of utility services along with electricity, phone and cable that consumers consider vital to the household," says report author Bobby Tulsiani.

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Forums » Tough Economy? Consumers Will Keep Broadband
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buzz_4_20

join:2003-09-20
Presque Isle, ME

Of Couse

With broadband you can get TV and Movies. I'm speaking legally BTW. Plus you only pay for what you get instead of paying flat rate.

I think paying per show would really flush out the dribble...

Mactron
el Camino Real
Premium
join:2001-12-16
CM94sv

Re: Of Couse

Just depends were it fits in folks Disposable/Discretionary income. Everyone has there own priorities. For me it would be one of the last to go. For others it maybe the first.
--
If only the Verizon CSRs worked this well.

en102
Canadian, eh?

join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

Re: Of Couse

I'd dump TV tomorrow if it wasn't for bundled deals (i.e. TV + Internet + VoIP = $89 for the first year. (Intenet + VoIP = $69). When the price of TV goes up, I'll cancel the TV part.
--
Canada = Hollywood North

dnoyeB
Ferrous Phallus

join:2000-10-09
Southfield, MI

Re: Of Couse

It won't go up. Thats why I say these companies are not competitive. I have been waiting for it to creap up just a few dollars with respect to DirectTV or DishTV. It hasn't. They obviously are setting their prices based on some common standard for it to have been 8 years and no relative change.

Also, if I dumped cable, my internet bill would go up $15. Bare bones cable is $15. So it makes no sense to do so.
--
dnoyeB
"Then said I, Wisdom [is] better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom [is] despised, and his words are not heard. " Ecclesiastes 9:16

cork1958
Cork

join:2000-02-26
Fruitport, MI
·Charter Pipeline

I'd dump tv right now, if it wasn't for the wife and kid. Can find everything I need online.

I'd dump the phone also, including cell phone, if it wasn't for work.
--
The Firefox alternative.
»www.mozilla.org/projects/seamonkey/
clecssuck

join:2002-01-23
Birmingham, AL

Re: Of Couse

Seeing as how my ISP is my employer if the economy caused them to lay me off I'd cut everything off the next day.

TK Junk Mail
Go ahead, make my day
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Margate City, NJ
clubs:
·Comcast

Wanting it a lot doesn't make it a utility

Just because a lot of people WANT TO have it doesn't make it a NEED TO have it. Looks like Bobby Tulsiani is just another of those pushing for "broadband as utility" status. No doubt to make sure government gets on the hook for expanding it everywhere.

The same news item also has reference to a competing study that disputes his.
A separate report released by SNL Kagan Thursday, however, came to a different conclusion about moviegoing during economic declines. It found theatrical box office revenues hit a gross record of $9.7 billion domestically in 2007, eclipsing the $9.3 billion mark reached in 2002.

"When the going gets tough, consumers go to the movies," said Derek Baine, a senior Kagan analyst, in a statement. "Historically, theaters have been fairly recession proof, and this year looks to be no exception."

So, what about the Jupiter findings? Tulsiani agreed that any weakness in box-office receipts resulting from the souring economy has not become evident yet.

--
My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page
Ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya punk?

punker
deleted by moderator
Premium
join:2004-06-21
Palmdale, CA
clubs:
·Time Warner VOIP
·RoadRunner Cable

Re: Wanting it a lot doesn't make it a utility

said by TK Junk Mail See Profile :

Just because a lot of people WANT TO have it doesn't make it a NEED TO have it. Looks like Bobby Tulsiani is just another of those pushing for "broadband as utility" status. No doubt to make sure government gets on the hook for expanding it everywhere so they can TAX the crap out of you cause some one has to pay the 700 billion worth of debt.
fixed
satellite68

join:2007-04-11
Louisville, KY
quote:
doesn't make it a NEED TO have it
I need to have it for work. Should I quit my job?

TK Junk Mail
Go ahead, make my day
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Margate City, NJ
clubs:
·Comcast

Re: Wanting it a lot doesn't make it a utility

said by satellite68 See Profile :

quote:
doesn't make it a NEED TO have it
I need to have it for work. Should I quit my job?
Get your work to pay for it, like they should.
--
My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page
Ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya punk?

en102
Canadian, eh?

join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
·DSL EXTREME
·DSL EXTREME

Re: Wanting it a lot doesn't make it a utility

said by TK Junk Mail See Profile :

said by satellite68 See Profile :

quote:
doesn't make it a NEED TO have it
I need to have it for work. Should I quit my job?
Get your work to pay for it, like they should.
Some will.. many won't. It becomes a tax deduction at the end of the year. Mine would say 'do the 40 mile one way commute through Los Angeles to Torrance from Santa Clarita to the office' before they'll pay for Internet.
--
Canada = Hollywood North

NetAdmin

join:2008-05-22

said by TK Junk Mail See Profile :

Get your work to pay for it, like they should.
Maybe he's a contractor that switches contracts or independent consultant ? Lots of self employed people REQUIRE broadband.
--
---
Drilling for more oil is akin to giving a methhead the keys to the meth lab.

TK Junk Mail
Go ahead, make my day
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Margate City, NJ
clubs:
·Comcast

Re: Wanting it a lot doesn't make it a utility

said by NetAdmin See Profile :

said by TK Junk Mail See Profile :

Get your work to pay for it, like they should.
Maybe he's a contractor that switches contracts or independent consultant ? Lots of self employed people REQUIRE broadband.
Then you write it off as a business expense.
--
My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page
Ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya punk?

S_engineer

join:2007-05-16
Chicago, IL

Re: Wanting it a lot doesn't make it a utility

Its always been my opinion that broadband is a utility. Our entire economy revolves around Internet access. This is no longer a perk. Think of what would happen to our banking sectors and government if the Web stopped now...
If they've become reliant on it, so have the people that actually paid for it in the first place.
If it's not a utility, then our government has no business promoting any service to the World Wide Web. In essence the government has sub-contracted information about services to the ISP level. To build it and not be able to use it would be ludicrous. In my opinion, a broadband connection should carry the same weight as a library. Maybe even flow into the USF (assuming it gets reformed someday). Now content could be saved for a different argument!
[/rant]
--
The "Lifetime" channel is responsible for 83% of all divorces...Robert Ginty

MrMoody
Liberal Capitalist

join:2002-09-03
Smithfield, NC
·magicjack.com
·Embarq

Re: Wanting it a lot doesn't make it a utility

Right. I think those saying "it's not a utility" don't realize how many people make a living or supplement their income through the internet, much less the quantity of internet commerce going on. Broadband is therefore a utility as much as telephone service is. If you want to argue necessity, electricity and running water aren't things you really NEED, either. You can live without them. You just WANT them so you can live a modern lifestyle. The same is becoming true for broadband.
--
"The sacrosanct free market would supposedly regulate itself. The problem with that approach is that regulations are just rules. If there are no rules, the players can cheat." - Ellen Hodgson Brown, JD

Maccawolf
Premium
join:2001-02-20
Hillsdale, NJ

said by S_engineer See Profile In my opinion, a broadband connection should carry the same weight as a library.
[/QUOTE :

I guess you haven't seen the fact that they just closed 3 libraries in a city in NJ (a city BTW, that I'm almost positive does NOT have a lot of broadband). I'm sure NJ isn't the only one......
--

Mom and Crockett...... I miss you both!

tschmidt
Premium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
·Verizon Online DSL

Re: Wanting it a lot doesn't make it a utility

said by Maccawolf See Profile :

they just closed 3 libraries in a city in NJ (a city BTW, that I'm almost positive does NOT have a lot of broadband).
That's sad. Here is NH we are experiencing a lot of city and state budget problems but as far as I know no one plans to close any libraries.

/tom

tschmidt
Premium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
·Verizon Online DSL

said by TK Junk Mail See Profile :

Then you write it off as a business expense.
The question is perceived value. Obviously if you need it for work that is an issue, hopefully your employer is paying for all or most of the cost.

But even if it is not required for work question being raised is if have a limited amount of money would you spend it on Internet access or TV. I think for many folks the answer is spend it on Internet access. It is perceived as a better value.

I'd argue Internet access has not quite reached status of utility, however it is close. More an more personal and business activity assumes Internet access, and often high speed access. Those without it are at a disadvantage and that disadvantage will increase over time.

Within our family we would all give up TV before the Internet.

/tom

NetAdmin

join:2008-05-22

said by TK Junk Mail See Profile :

Then you write it off as a business expense.
That's an option, but that still doesn't change the fact that someone _needs_ the connection. Broadband is getting more and more necessary each and every year. Just to compete effectively, businesses need to have it.
--
---
Drilling for more oil is akin to giving a methhead the keys to the meth lab.
Kearnstd
Elf Wizard

join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

internet is imo more important then TV, when one considers the wealth of information(and misinformation of course). the internet can also provide legal access to shows you want and many are now legally free from network sites and things like Fancast.

and of course illegal sites like The Pirate Bay(though downloading TV shows is more a gray area of legality)
--
[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports

badtrip
East Bay
Premium
join:2004-03-20
Albany, CA
·Comcast

I'm sure that folks were saying the exact same thing about electricity back in the day. Hell, you still don't "need" electricity to survive but without electricity, ones immediate surrounding become much more saturated with "suck".

Internet is so engrained in some of our lives, it should get "utility" status. My wife and I telecommute for instance. We NEED a reliable internet connection to continue our way of life. Sounds like a utility to me.

Grail Knight
Who Dares Wins
Premium
join:2003-05-31
Erie, PA

Less commercials online

There is nothing on TV IMO that makes for any compelling reason to keep it if those money is available only for one or the other broadband wins.
--
"Facts not FUD".
tmc8080

join:2004-04-24
Floral Park, NY

this is true..

you can even take your laptop to the library if your power gets cut off..


bit_junkie

join:2004-05-04
Scottsdale, AZ

I've done this.....

With prices on basic necessities up and 4 kids to feed and clothe, we trimmed out the premium channels, dropped to the next speed tier on cox ( 12-1 i believe ) and dropped our land line in favor of just cell service,and saved us enough money to almost fill my gas tank lol. i tried to convince the wife to drop cable tv all together and get just a digital hd antenna, since most of the shows she watches are on non cable channels, but she didn't want to live without the sci-fi channel, i got her hooked on stargate,doctor who, and battlestar some time ago i still think broadband is a luxury, i really don't consider it a "core utility".

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
·Cox HSI
·AT&T Southwest

Re: I've done this.....

said by bit_junkie See Profile :

but she didn't want to live without the sci-fi channel, i got her hooked on stargate,doctor who, and battlestar some time ago
The good ones are all taken
--
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini

bit_junkie

join:2004-05-04
Scottsdale, AZ

Re: I've done this.....

said by KrK See Profile :

said by bit_junkie See Profile :

but she didn't want to live without the sci-fi channel, i got her hooked on stargate,doctor who, and battlestar some time ago
The good ones are all taken
Yes, yes they are

swhx7
Premium
join:2006-07-23
Elbonia
·RoadRunner Cable

Yes, 'utility' is the right category

Internet is not as basic as water, sewer, electricity, or garbage collection, simply because those utilities are more often needed for health and safety. Like phone service and other telecommunications, however, it does fit the category in a more general sense, in that it is one of the external services that most households require, relies at least in part on public infrastructure, and can be provided on a mass basis for a relatively low monthly rate.

Utilities are not all equally essential, nor is there an objective dividing line. People lived without indoor plumbing for most of mankind's history, and many still do, and it's possible to be healthy and safe without it. The concept of a utility is also relative to social norms. E.g., having a credit card is not required by law or needed for survival, but it is a requirement of participation in middle-class life in U.S. society today.

It's also vital to democracy, education and social cohesion that the whole population have easy access to news, reference information and communication, and internet is fast becoming our most important means of such access.

The network neutrality debate makes clear that "regulated utility" is the most appropriate paradigm for internet. The right model is a government utility maintaining the "last mile", with large numbers of private providers competing to provide service to each endpoint.

This model would assure both network neutrality and low prices. It would finally make the benefits of unlimited communication more nearly universal. It would benefit the whole society economically and socially far more than the present private-only model.

Duramax08
Oy, Pass It on.

join:2008-08-03
San Antonio, TX

Re: Yes, 'utility' is the right category

THEN GO TO DIAL UP THEN.
Madtown

join:2008-04-26
Madera, CA

Hulu or Netflix

If Hulu would allow more TV shows from NBC, Fox, ABC and CBS and if Netflix would allow shows from HBO and Showtime I would ditch the TV all together and just use the TV for Xbox Live.

Combat Chuck
Too Many Cannibals
Premium
join:2001-11-29
Erie, PA

Re: Hulu or Netflix

said by Madtown See Profile :

If Hulu would allow more TV shows from NBC, Fox, ABC and CBS and if Netflix would allow shows from HBO and Showtime I would ditch the TV all together and just use the TV for Xbox Live.
About 6 months or so ago on Netflix there wasn't much of anything to watch instantly short of PBS documentaries. Now there's a ton of stuff. They're quickly improving it quite a bit.
If you've got a recent TV you can go buy a DVI to HDMI cable and watch on your tv. (BTW if you do this buy it online I got a 15 foot cable for $10.00 from Newegg, they'll hit you for $80 or so at a local store.
--
The world’s elusive, remember
where love's the leaf
faith, the river
what's born as flame dies in ember
see for yourself!
Madtown

join:2008-04-26
Madera, CA

Re: Hulu or Netflix

said by Combat Chuck See Profile :

said by Madtown See Profile :

If Hulu would allow more TV shows from NBC, Fox, ABC and CBS and if Netflix would allow shows from HBO and Showtime I would ditch the TV all together and just use the TV for Xbox Live.
About 6 months or so ago on Netflix there wasn't much of anything to watch instantly short of PBS documentaries. Now there's a ton of stuff. They're quickly improving it quite a bit.
If you've got a recent TV you can go buy a DVI to HDMI cable and watch on your tv. (BTW if you do this buy it online I got a 15 foot cable for $10.00 from Newegg, they'll hit you for $80 or so at a local store.
What about series on paid TV such as The Cleaners, Dog the bounty hunter, Weeds, Californication?

Could you post a link to the 15 foot cable you got please?

Combat Chuck
Too Many Cannibals
Premium
join:2001-11-29
Erie, PA

Re: Hulu or Netflix

said by Madtown See Profile :

What about series on paid TV such as The Cleaners, Dog the bounty hunter, Weeds, Californication?
Right now they have a showtime section that I know has at least Dexter, Penn and Teller BS., and Weeds. A&E networks is a little spotty they have like a best of Dog up. Like I said, 6 months or so ago watch instantly wasn't very good for anything put public television, they've added quite a bit. Now you're not going to get awesome picture quality but it's decent.

said by Madtown See Profile :

Could you post a link to the 15 foot cable you got please?
I don't know if this is the exact one I got, but when I was looking I got the cheapest that was listed and this is the cheapest they have right now for about the same price.
»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···12270115
--
The world’s elusive, remember
where love's the leaf
faith, the river
what's born as flame dies in ember
see for yourself!
buzz_4_20

join:2003-09-20
Presque Isle, ME

Core Utility No... but

It is by no means a utility (unless you telecommute that is)

But many think broadband is the better value for dollar entertainment choice.

dadkins
Merry Whatever
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast


edit:
October 4th, @12:05PM

Anyone look at TV offerings lately?

I have 2-77 Standard Cable... most of which no one here would want to watch.
On the interwebs, I can search out and download/watch most things *we* would want to watch.

»www.ovguide.com/

Utility? Uhm, no.
Ya can't compare HSI to a utility.
Utilities are metered.
While I wouldn't mind metered HSI, many of you might.
--
Think outside the Fox... Opera

See 8 replies to this post

PhoenixAZ
Joshua
Premium
join:2004-01-04
Phoenix, AZ

Just watch it online

You can just watch certain TV shows online anyway.

Jeffrey
Bye George, 1937-2008
Premium
join:2002-12-24
Long Island
clubs:

I'm one of them

I'd cancel my cable TV service before I canceled my Internet. In fact, I'd cancel my cell service before I'd cancel my Internet.

JokerCPoC

join:2005-11-21
Yermo, CA

Paid for

Mine's paid for and I do It every month, Even though I have to micro manage My finances every month, sigh... Maybe next Year will be somewhat better for Me.
voipdabbler

join:2006-04-27
Kalispell, MT

I don't think so--broadband rates will fall, significantly..

The problem is the recession may be so significantly long and deep that we're going to see triple-digit inflation and double-digit jobless rates by the 2nd or 3rd quarter of next year with no signs of recovery for possibly 2 years. People are going to be hard pressed to pay rent/mortgages and energy bills, plus buy gas or food--and pay off the huge credit card debt that so many owe. Broadband, as a non-essential service, unlike food, shelter and energy, will be dropped by many in tough financial straights. And that may be far more of us than anyone wants to admit, especially the politicians. (I think the "bailout" may actually prolong and deepen the affects of the recession through driving the national debt so high--the administration has enacted short-sighted policies that started the dollar on a downhill slide more than 2 years ago--it will free fall now. If the dollar loses reserve currency status, well, we'll never see any signs of even a slight recovery.)
ncbill
Premium
join:2007-01-23
Winston Salem, NC

Re: I don't think so--broadband rates will fall, significantly..

People will share broadband if money gets tight.

One guy with a wireless router placed in a window can easily share internet with a dozen of his neighbors.

MisterMarcus

join:2001-11-10
San Diego, CA
·RoadRunner Cable

Re: I don't think so--broadband rates will fall, significantly..

said by ncbill See Profile :

People will broadcast and charge for broadband if money gets tight.

One guy with a wireless router placed in a window can easily share internet with a dozen of his neighbors for a fee.
Fixed. People aren't going to give stuff away for the exact reason you just stated - money gets tight.

I could see someone setting up a metered access channel through their router and charging $10-20/month per user. Get 10 users and you not only pay the bill but make a tidy profit.
k1ll3rdr4g0n

join:2005-03-19
Homer Glen, IL
·AT&T DSL Service

Think about this

Lets work through this logically:
You pay for cable TV (or satellite) and have to pay for channels you don't want/need/watch. You get unendless commercials for what you PAY for.

Internet offers TV programming for free without commercials. Even movies are free without the hassle of driving to a theatre and getting a seat and having to listen to ignornant people talk/cell phones go off during the movie. Personally I don't care for quality, I prefer to stay home with a bowl of popcorn and watch a movie on my computer, this way I don't use gas plus I don't have to worry about other people. My view is radically different though as we are starting to move towards a home theatre kinda era. Projectors are getting cheaper, 5.1 speakers are dirt cheap now a days, movies are "virtually" free...what else do you need? Bowl of popcorn and a recliner and your set to go!

I don't know about you, but good or bad economy, cable TV has been digging its own grave since day one. If it was pick-and-choose channels plus no advertising I would imagine a flood of people signing up...but not as good revenue stream as advertising would rake in. I would be first in line for that service if they were willing to throw an "unlocked" DVR at me, I would sign a 2 year contract.

As more and more internet television services develop, cable TV will become a thing of the past. OTA will survive because its free, and supported by advertising (and since its free more people will watch it thus advertising revenue should be more). Cable TV has seen its day, just like dial-up, it will come and stay but dwindle away until it is dirt cheap and no one wants to buy it because they get the same thing on their computer for a fraction of the cost if not free.
MTU
Premium
join:2005-02-15
Santa Maria, CA
·AT&T Yahoo

Tears for tiers

I share 'voipdabbler's concerns. The 'dslreports' readership is a minority within a minority. As such, I'd guess that most are interested in what's going on behind the scenes, and have come to rely upon the Internet for a breadth of information.

This, as opposed to a large number of working families who already live budgeted pay-check to pay-check, using TV for escape, and maybe, using a computer for games and email. The Internet access will be the first entertainment to go for many.

If the rates don't fall with customer ability to pay, a more stratified audience will drop away. Perhaps with a tier for the struggling, with access to an "Emergency Broadcast Channel", Fox-News, and all the shopping channels.

tschmidt
Premium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
·Verizon Online DSL

Re: Tears for tiers

That is an interesting take on the issue.

Be interesting research project to determine customer priority: TV vs Internet. I'm not sure sure Broadband Reports members are that atypical. People have long shown a strong preference for connectivity vs content. That's why we pay for broadband and content, for the most part, is advertiser supported.

I'm a big fan of Andrew Odlyzko. Was at AT&T labs now at University of Minnesota. He wrote an interesting paper in 2001 titled "Content is not King." Thought provoking then and still holds true today.

/tom
MTU
Premium
join:2005-02-15
Santa Maria, CA

Re: Tears for tiers

The "Content is not King" paper was interesting, and brought back some 'old' terminology I'd forgotten.

We'll have to see what transpires over the next two years. A lot will have to with disposable income in the hands of the 18-30 crowd.
Shoreline
Your Freedom Fries Are Stale

join:2003-09-29
Santa Clara, CA

I dumped TV a while back

Not only were the prices ridiculous, but the bundling sucks too.

When someone wakes up and decides to start offering a la carte, I'll go back to cable/satellite. Otherwise, my TV is used for DVD/BDRom movies and video games, while I use content streams (NHL Gamecenter/Center Ice Online) via internet out to my TV.

Internet is quite essential, far more essential today than television, which is why cities around here are offering free or muni, and should be.
--
Moore/Alexander 2008

Conservatives love religious-like aphorisms so here's one: "Freedom isn't free. It's Made in China."

Boogeyman
Drive it like you stole it
Premium
join:2002-12-17
Huntsville, AL
·Comcast

Re: I dumped TV a while back

Last year my wife and I subscribed to cable [i]just for[/] hockey season. We occaisionaly watched other things about once a month. Now that most things that we would want to watch you can find online legally, we are not getting cable.

We bought NHL 2K9 for the Wii and it came with a free 2 month trial of NHL Center Ice Online, so we're gonna give that a shot and might decide to subscribe if its to our liking.
--
Im Your Boogeyman, Thats What I Am
Shoreline
Your Freedom Fries Are Stale

join:2003-09-29
Santa Clara, CA

Re: I dumped TV a while back

said by Boogeyman See Profile :

Last year my wife and I subscribed to cable [i]just for[/] hockey season. We occaisionaly watched other things about once a month. Now that most things that we would want to watch you can find online legally, we are not getting cable.

We bought NHL 2K9 for the Wii and it came with a free 2 month trial of NHL Center Ice Online, so we're gonna give that a shot and might decide to subscribe if its to our liking.
Whoa. I wonder if they offer that with 2K9 for the PS2..

My reasons also for Center Ice Online is that I work until 7pm, usually do some things after, so I miss my team's games. Instead, I can stream them from work on work days, and home on non-work days.

Have a PC DVI output to our Samsung HDTV so can still watch it on TV if I want, just cable/broadcast free. Thankfully the missus is on the same boat as me. Most women in my family think she's crazy to go without cable.

Definitely give it a shot though. Can't beat free. By the time those two months are over their price for the rest of the season should be down a bit.
--
Moore/Alexander 2008

Conservatives love religious-like aphorisms so here's one: "Freedom isn't free. It's Made in China."

Boogeyman
Drive it like you stole it
Premium
join:2002-12-17
Huntsville, AL
·Comcast

Re: I dumped TV a while back

We have our pc hooked up to our 37" lcd, otherwise she'd probably still want cable. I dont think I'd want to try and follow the puck around on a 19" screen either though.

If I miss a game and really want to see it, (I always check scores, so I already know what the outcome was), I'll just find a torrent. My wife and I work retail, so sometimes we might not get home till after 11pm. So if I see that a game had something spectacular happen, I'll try to find it on youtube or torrent.

Personally though, I find watching sports is more fun in a group, half the time my wife and I will fall asleep watching a game, and we are both rabid hockey fans (our wedding cake was a miniature Stanley Cup). Though when we watch with at least one more person, we scream, jump around, I dunno, just get more "into" the game.
--
Im Your Boogeyman, Thats What I Am

jmn1207
Premium
join:2000-07-19
Reston, VA
·Verizon FIOS

Try Getting a Job...

...without a broadband internet connection.

If times are tough and job security is a real issue, you will have to spend a lot of time at the library or local career centers researching for opportunities and distributing your resume around. Even if your trade is roofing, you could benefit from having the best resource for information and communication conveniently at hand. You could still enjoy watching fat people try and fit through an approaching wall on free TV if you cancelled cable TV, but there are just way too many tangible things that can make your life easier with a "fast" connection to the series of tubes some call the internet.

Those without this resource are often at an enormous disadvantage, and anyone that disagrees is generally ignorant to the notion that it could better their way of life in some capacity.

Boogeyman
Drive it like you stole it
Premium
join:2002-12-17
Huntsville, AL
·Comcast

Re: Try Getting a Job...

That is very true. Most businesses now require you to fill out a job app on thier website. Sometimes they'll have a little kiosk to fill one out, but thats not always ideal. I've seen it take over 2 hours to fill out the Sears application at the kiosk. If they only have one kiosk, that can become problematic.
--
Im Your Boogeyman, Thats What I Am
brianiscool

join:2000-08-16
Miami, FL

well

We have to apply for jobs online.
shezams
My Other Car Is A Zamboni

join:2001-08-14
Hyattsville, MD
·Comcast

Anymore it is really important

A broadband connection and an email address are important if you want to stay on the better side of the economic equation. As an educational or job seeking tool it can't be beat. Need some free language training - try »www.bbc.co.uk/languages/ there are tons of things out there like that, and being good at using the internet as a tool is a survival skill these days. Maybe not as essential as electricity, but at my local library good luck at how long you need to wait for an open workstation!
--
Simple rules - no offsides, no intent to maim, everything else is all good!

NoDieboldVoting

@rr.com

I got tired long time ago

I dumped TV in late 2005 early 2006 after a BBC news broadcast was "cut off" and a woman success story blended in.
I figured no need to pay and support for fixed and controlled TV.
Forums » Tough Economy? Consumers Will Keep Broadbandpage: 1 · 2


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