Its an interesting question we have pretty good infrastructure in

this country, and it came about through long stretches of pretty heavy capital investment from telephone and cable companies.

Most of us have connections that will support high-def video and other bandwidth-intensive apps, and many of us can choose from more than one service provider. companies have been willing to invest because they thought they could earn returns on that capital. As those companies have invested in the network, entrepreneurs (and institutions) have found applications to put the bandwidth to use - I think consumers have reaped the benefits.

could policy-makers decide that we've seen enough investment, that they don't like what's around the corner (pricing, privacy) and get the public to believe that the (semi) free market won't serve our needs in the future? sure, why not. They could have also taken a different approach from the beginning and invested in that infrastructure themselves one way or another (see South Korea).

I'm just not seeing broadband network services as a natural monopoly at this point (particularly with 5G wireless around the corner), and am not sure we need to regulate returns, wholesale agreements, etc. that said, perfectly reasonable people will disagree with me.

[Post edited by Capital City Hoo at 07/18/2017 6:23PM]

In response to this post by KaHOOnah

Posted: 07/18/2017 at 5:12PM

What is the rationale for not treating the Internet like a utility? ** -- KaHOOnah 07/18/2017 4:06PM

Don't forget, the FCC went w/ title II because Verizon sued to block net -- Hoo05Dave 07/18/2017 9:39PM

Its an interesting question we have pretty good infrastructure in -- Capital City Hoo 07/18/2017 5:12PM

Rural broadband (and the lack thereof) is another issue -- Hoo82 07/18/2017 10:02PM

Agree- we had the USF to get basic telephone services -- Capital City Hoo 07/19/2017 07:49AM

You're asking the right questions -- HoozOnTop 07/18/2017 5:31PM

...and the internet is in the hands of such a lot of fools tryin' to -- Tuckahokie 07/18/2017 5:07PM

I have mixed feelings ... to me it should depend on what if any subsidies -- CharlestonSC 07/18/2017 5:00PM

There was some sweetheart deal aspect. -- HowieT3 07/18/2017 6:04PM

Most of those original franchise agreements were for TV, not broadband -- Capital City Hoo 07/19/2017 07:54AM

There is none. Unless you're an ISP... -- Freddyburg Hokie 07/18/2017 4:45PM

Well, the current FCC can't be trusted -- WahooMatt05 07/18/2017 4:29PM

Who is John Oliver? ** -- hoothat 07/19/2017 03:44AM

The guy on the right. ** -- Hooddihsm 07/19/2017 07:55AM

Ahh, TV comedian. ** -- hoothat 07/19/2017 10:56AM

Exactly, a comedian. ** -- Hooddihsm 07/19/2017 10:58AM

Its an interesting question we have pretty good infrastructure in

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