Why Your Internet is Legally Required To Be Terrible
A city in Tennessee built its own fast internet network using a grant for electricity upgrades, which made the local economy grow a lot. However, big internet companies in the U.S. don't like this and have spent a lot of money to stop other cities from doing the same. They use complex arguments, claim it's too expensive for cities, and say it violates their free speech rights to stop competition. This has led to Americans paying much more for internet than people in Europe. These same tactics are now being used in other countries too.
Key Vocabulary
The maximum rate at which data can be transferred over a network connection, typically measured in bits per second. In the context of the text, it refers to the immense data transfer capacity required by large tech companies.
Examples:
- Streaming high-definition video requires a significant amount of bandwidth.
- The new fiber optic connection dramatically increased the office's internet bandwidth.
- To avoid slow loading times, ensure your website has sufficient server bandwidth.
Moving or operating with great speed; fast. The text uses it to describe the quickness of communication services.
Examples:
- The courier promised a speedy delivery of the urgent documents.
- Thanks to the new software, data processing is now remarkably speedy.
- She made a speedy recovery after her minor surgery.
No longer current or in use; obsolete. It describes technology or methods that have been surpassed by newer advancements.
Examples:
- The company replaced its outdated computer systems with modern equipment.
- Many people find flip phones to be an outdated form of communication.
- Using a paper map for navigation feels outdated in the age of GPS.
A person whose job is to extinguish fires. The text uses it in a rhetorical example to illustrate that certain professionals have specific, limited roles.
Examples:
- The fireman bravely entered the burning building to rescue the trapped residents.
- Children often look up to the fireman as a hero.
- During the drill, the fireman demonstrated how to properly use a fire extinguisher.
A device that forwards data packets between computer networks, creating an overlay internetwork. It is essential for connecting a local network to the internet.
Examples:
- I had to restart my router to fix the internet connection issues.
- The new Wi-Fi 6 router provides faster speeds and better coverage.
- Ensure your router is placed in a central location for optimal signal distribution.
Unimportant or superficial material; trivial content. The text uses it to describe unnecessary information in a newsletter.
Examples:
- The report was full of fluff and lacked concrete data.
- I prefer news articles that get straight to the point, without any fluff.
- Her presentation was engaging because it cut out all the fluff and focused on key insights.
Behaving in a secret and often dishonest or underhanded way. It describes an action taken subtly to achieve an advantage.
Examples:
- The competitor used a sneaky tactic to gain market share.
- He gave a sneaky glance at his notes during the exam.
- The cat made a sneaky attempt to steal food from the counter.
The introduction or implementation of a new product, service, or system. In the text, it refers to the completion of a new network infrastructure.
Examples:
- The company announced a nationwide rollout of its new smartphone model.
- The software update rollout faced some initial bugs.
- The successful rollout of the vaccination program was praised by health officials.
A unit of information equal to one billion bytes (gigabyte), or, as used in the text, a shortened form of 'gigabyte' often used informally to refer to high-speed internet service. The text also refers to 'gig city' as a place with many freelance opportunities.
Examples:
- I need more storage, so I'm upgrading my hard drive to several terabytes instead of just a few hundred gigs.
- The new internet plan offers a full gig of download speed.
- Many artists in the city rely on various gigs to make a living.
A point of congestion in a system that impedes the flow of data or resources. The text uses it to describe both physical and legal restrictions on network flow.
Examples:
- The old server became a bottleneck for the entire network's performance.
- Lack of skilled labor created a significant bottleneck in the production process.
- We need to identify and remove any bottlenecks to improve efficiency.
Having or showing an excessive satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements; self-satisfied. It implies a sense of superiority or complacency.
Examples:
- His smug attitude after winning the game annoyed everyone.
- She wore a smug smile, confident in her perfect score.
- Avoid being smug about your success; humility is always appreciated.
In an unceasing or insistent manner; without letting up or weakening. In the text, it describes persistent lobbying efforts.
Examples:
- The team worked relentlessly to meet the project deadline.
- The detective pursued the lead relentlessly until he solved the case.
- The marketing campaign was relentlessly promoted across all platforms.
To obtain exclusive possession or control of a trade, commodity, or service. In the text, it refers to a situation where one company exclusively controls a market.
Examples:
- The large corporation monopolized the local market for smartphones.
- For years, a single company monopolized the production of a crucial component.
- The company's unfair practices allowed it to have monopolized control over the industry.
Hard, continuous work, especially of a tedious or difficult nature. The text refers to a demanding work schedule as a 'grind set trend'.
Examples:
- The daily grind of commuting was starting to wear him down.
- After years of the academic grind, she finally earned her doctorate.
- He was tired of the corporate grind and decided to start his own business.
A deep, wide ditch, typically filled with water, surrounding a castle, fort, or town, and intended as a defense against attack. Metaphorically, it refers to a protective barrier that prevents competition.
Examples:
- The company built a strong brand loyalty as a moat against new competitors.
- Patents and copyrights can serve as a legal moat for innovative businesses.
- Investing in cutting-edge technology created a competitive moat for the startup.
In a way that relates to the identification of long-term or overall aims and interests and the means of achieving them. The text uses it to describe the intentional placement of data centers.
Examples:
- The chess player strategically moved her knight to control the center of the board.
- The company strategically opened new branches in emerging markets.
- They strategically allocated their resources to maximize their impact.
A central facility where signals are processed and distributed to subscribers in a cable television or internet network. It acts as a hub for telecommunications companies.
Examples:
- The signals from the satellite dish are sent to the headend for processing.
- Our local ISP's headend is located on the outskirts of the city.
- Maintaining the headend equipment is crucial for uninterrupted service.
To rescue from a difficult situation, especially a financial one. The text uses it in the context of state governments potentially having to financially rescue local councils.
Examples:
- The government had to bail out the failing bank to prevent a financial crisis.
- His friends offered to bail him out after his business encountered unexpected problems.
- Without a significant investment, the struggling startup couldn't be bailed out.
To prevent or stop something from happening or developing; to suppress. The text argues that competition does not stifle innovation.
Examples:
- The new regulations threatened to stifle creativity in the industry.
- Fear of failure can often stifle progress and risk-taking.
- The loud music began to stifle any attempts at conversation.
The time during which a machine, especially a computer, is out of action or unavailable for use. In the text, it specifically refers to service interruptions due to outages.
Examples:
- The scheduled maintenance will result in some server downtime.
- Minimizing downtime is a critical goal for any online service provider.
- Unexpected power outages caused significant downtime for the factory.