The former. "Light touch" regulation will be required . . . for the good of this Nation.
Yep. It really is complicated. IMHO OFCOM has pandered to the whims of a certain unbundled ISP, regardless of may be best for long term broadband in the UK.
I'm not saying BT are saints, because IMO they would get try get away with what they could.
But a certain company is far from whiter than white, and its why I personally would not use them after my previous ISP was taken over. I have tried my damndest to remain neutral and have on many occasions recommended them if I felt that would be best option for the EU.
However over the past few years, I've seen some pretty border-line stuff of which I'm not sure I approve of, because to TBF it really is dirty tactics. eg
- Last year a personal friend of mine told me about a link to go sign which supposedly was to get OFCOM to force Openreach to provide better speeds. When I actually looked in detail, it was a petition to get OFCOM to force the separation of BT and Openreach. Hidden in the background was this petition group was set up by TT & Sky & a couple of other lesser known SPs under a different name. There is no way the average Joe Bloggs would realise what they were really signing
- Earlier this year I saw numerous post on my Facebook timeline (paid ads as FB recognises I talk broadband) supposedly campaigning for better broadband in the UK. When I looked closer, to join what you were actually doing is sending an email to OFCOM which started something like
"Dear Sharon. I believe that in order to provide faster broadband in the UK it would be in the best interests for Openreach to be separated from BT" Once again the backers of this hidden under another name were 'LLU' ISPs.
Whilst my memory is like a sieve these days, the info should be out there that I am not telling porkie pies about this. Its just very well hidden. I think I may have mentioned this previously, but if you search under the correct name which I wish I could remember now, all will be revealed.
I think the other thing that opened my eyes further is the way a certain news channel handled the outbreak of the TalkTalk hacking scandal. I remember that night very well because I was sat holding my dads hand not wanting to move because at this point he only had function of his hand for 'yes' or 'no'. By default the TV in his room was tuned into a certain station and I couldn't move to change channels as I didnt want to let go. When his time came.. I got to see news reports from other stations and boy what a difference on the spin and out to decimate a competitor.
There is more.. but I've said enough... as its taken me back 2yrs and thus I'm out of steam.