Local governments do not favor themselves on taxes or right of ways or otherwise compete unfairly with incumbent telecommunications and incumbent cable companies. To the contrary, private incumbents enjoy a wealth of state and federal subsidies, guaranteed rates of return, regulated rates for pole attachments, etc. In addition, local telephone companies enjoyed years of regulated monopoly status to build positions of dominance they continue to enjoy. To pretend that these local incumbents, with their subsidies and regulated access, need to “level the playing field” to protect a “free market” against local government systems flies in the face of reality.
Vidchat Discussion on Community Networks and Broadband Stimulus
Tue, April 15, 2008 | Posted by christopher
Geoff Daily and Christopher Mitchell discuss community networks and why the public sector should be prioritized above the private sector when awarding stimulus grants.
Video:
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