4 responses to “Great News”

1. 

   DWEEZIL THE WEASEL

   October 8, 2026 at 7:53 pm

   And what will everyone do when a really, really big CME hits? Go back to smoke signals and tom-toms? Just asking.

   Reply
   1. 

      Big Ruckus D

      October 8, 2026 at 8:27 pm

      Probably, since the circuit switched landline network is increasingly being turned down and dismantled, just as the once massive AT&T Long Lines microwave network was, before it. Not that it was practical or cost effective to maintain those older networks as backups, but when modern wireless networks take a giant crap, we will wish we still had them.

      Two way radio will be about all there is at that point, and if there is a CME or nuclear EMP, much if that hardware will be out of commission, save for guys who have restored and held onto old tube based transceivers. I keep some two way portables in a faraday cage, as do a couple of friends and family members, for just such an eventuality. The great unknown is whether atmospheric conditions in the wake to a nuclear event will even allow radio signal to propagate normally. But such RF theory is above my pay grade.

      Reply
2. 

   Dan

   October 8, 2026 at 10:31 pm

   I predict that if Elon succeeds and takes a huge bite out of the cellular market that once he has enough subscribers he will cease undercutting the major carriers and become just as expensive. He’s a shrewd businessman but he doesn’t like give his product away…

   Reply
   1. 

      Big Ruckus D

      October 9, 2026 at 12:19 am

      But of course. The only reason to compete in an existing business segment now is to undercut one’s competitors just long enough to get on top, and then crank the price up on your captive customers, all while cutting the quality and level of service. You’ll notice that having three big telecoms ostensibly competing against each other hasn’t done anything in over a decade to improve the affordability or quality of service from any of them. The prices just keep going up, and they all suck.

      In fact, if one reviews the typical services offered and prices demanded from each of the big 3, they’d likely conclude that there was collusion taking place. But the FTC wouldn’t know anything about that, right? Adding a fourth player won’t be any different, at least not in the long term.

      Reply