Re:Ohio GOP ends attempt to ban municipal broadband after pr...
by ineedasername on Tuesday June 29, 2021 @05:54PM
(#27682229)
All of these assume municipal broadband is subsidized by taxes.
That might or might not be true, and could vary from example to example, but is something you need data to support, and it should be possible to determine if such operations are revenue positive or negative.
It is also difficult to swallow that it's hostile to competition in those cases where the alternative is a private monopoly by an ISP. The theory of competition in a free market is that it is also beneficial to consumers.
If there is already no potential for private competition, then the market has failed and consumers may be harmed. If the municipality steps in to offer an alternative-- as long as it is not subsidizing it & artificially lowering prices-- then it is enhancing the competitive landscape.
That might or might not be true, and could vary from example to example, but is something you need data to support, and it should be possible to determine if such operations are revenue positive or negative.
It is also difficult to swallow that it's hostile to competition in those cases where the alternative is a private monopoly by an ISP. The theory of competition in a free market is that it is also beneficial to consumers.
If there is already no potential for private competition, then the market has failed and consumers may be harmed. If the municipality steps in to offer an alternative-- as long as it is not subsidizing it & artificially lowering prices-- then it is enhancing the competitive landscape.