Re:FCC to propose a minimum 100mbps to qualify as broadband,...
by jmyeet on Wednesday November 01, 2023 @05:30PM
(#38105610)
We don't need competition. We need to provide Internet access as a heavily-regulated utility, ideally as a municipal service. Competition for last-mile Internet actually makes very little sense because it's an overbuild.
Imagine it costs $2000 per household to connect a fiber network. With 70% of households signing up, that produces a certain cost. Now imagine there was a second fiber network that also cost $2000 per household that splits the customer base. By definition, this is going to be more expensive.
Capitalism created this problem. It won't solve it. This is capitalism working as intended: doing the absolute least possible for the highest possible price while lobbying to exclude competition (eg by making municipal broadband illegal).
Expecting markets to solve this problem is neoliberal brain rot.
Build municipal broadband. Failing that, regulate ISPs like utilities. And this would include unbundling TV services.
Imagine it costs $2000 per household to connect a fiber network. With 70% of households signing up, that produces a certain cost. Now imagine there was a second fiber network that also cost $2000 per household that splits the customer base. By definition, this is going to be more expensive.
Capitalism created this problem. It won't solve it. This is capitalism working as intended: doing the absolute least possible for the highest possible price while lobbying to exclude competition (eg by making municipal broadband illegal).
Expecting markets to solve this problem is neoliberal brain rot.
Build municipal broadband. Failing that, regulate ISPs like utilities. And this would include unbundling TV services.