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and why do you only have comcast as a choice? Government granted monopolies. Void all local contracts with ISPs (cable or telco), and you will have choices.

stdgy 9y ago
Rewind. Why did the government grant monopolies to these companies in the first place? To entice them to invest in their area because nobody else would. Infrastructure isn't software development. It requires billions of dollars of capital investment. That investment isn't going to go to many areas unless it's nearly guaranteed a return, hence the labyrinth of monopolistic guarantees bestowed upon ISPs. It's not clear to me that consumer options would flourish if you were to roll back all ISP related regulations and void existing contracts. I suspect the current system would just become more entrenched.
- KZeillmann 9y ago
  Not to mention that big-name ISPs like Comcast will litigate their smaller competitors out of existence.
Dirlewanger 9y ago
>you will have choices. No, companies will go with the cheaper route i.e. continue the comfy collusions they have now. You're insane if you think they'll magically start sharing their own infrastructures with each other.
- jpadkins 9y ago
  no, I expect them to build redundant connections to homes / neighood POPs. Especially for cities that plan well and design for easily pulling new wire through existing conduit. The first build out of fiber to the curb is expensive. 2-N is cheap if you do it right.
  - stdgy 9y ago
    Outside of large cities, most of America can't even afford the upkeep associated with their existing infrastructure. I'm not sure how you think they'll be able to afford large scale fiber deployments. Or maybe you're saying that private ISPs will perform the deployment and then share their fiber? Which seems wildly unrealistic.
    - jpadkins 9y ago
      Rural flat areas: I expect fixed point wireless to be more prevalent. firms specialize, it's an important attribute of a functioning free market. If there is demand for running fiber through conduits, local firms might specialize in that type of construction, especially if local knowledge and working with local governments can be leveraged across customers. Many industries are not vertically integrated where specialization is more efficient than vertical integration. (i.e. Ford stopped making tires and glass)

stdgy 9y ago

Rewind. Why did the government grant monopolies to these companies in the first place? To entice them to invest in their area because nobody else would. Infrastructure isn't software development. It requires billions of dollars of capital investment. That investment isn't going to go to many areas unless it's nearly guaranteed a return, hence the labyrinth of monopolistic guarantees bestowed upon ISPs. It's not clear to me that consumer options would flourish if you were to roll back all ISP related regulations and void existing contracts. I suspect the current system would just become more entrenched.

KZeillmann 9y ago
Not to mention that big-name ISPs like Comcast will litigate their smaller competitors out of existence.

Dirlewanger 9y ago

>you will have choices. No, companies will go with the cheaper route i.e. continue the comfy collusions they have now. You're insane if you think they'll magically start sharing their own infrastructures with each other.

jpadkins 9y ago
no, I expect them to build redundant connections to homes / neighood POPs. Especially for cities that plan well and design for easily pulling new wire through existing conduit. The first build out of fiber to the curb is expensive. 2-N is cheap if you do it right.
- stdgy 9y ago
  Outside of large cities, most of America can't even afford the upkeep associated with their existing infrastructure. I'm not sure how you think they'll be able to afford large scale fiber deployments. Or maybe you're saying that private ISPs will perform the deployment and then share their fiber? Which seems wildly unrealistic.
  - jpadkins 9y ago
    Rural flat areas: I expect fixed point wireless to be more prevalent. firms specialize, it's an important attribute of a functioning free market. If there is demand for running fiber through conduits, local firms might specialize in that type of construction, especially if local knowledge and working with local governments can be leveraged across customers. Many industries are not vertically integrated where specialization is more efficient than vertical integration. (i.e. Ford stopped making tires and glass)