> Nothing wrong with a system where the infrastructure is a regulated utility and ISPs can use it. Or, alternately, ISPs could continue to own the infrastructu

> Nothing wrong with a system where the infrastructure is a regulated utility and ISPs can use it. Or, alternately, ISPs could continue to own the infrastructure but be required to allow other ISPs to rent or pay for passage on their last mile infrastructure. That seems to be the greatest point of contention smaller ISPs have. Getting a backbone connection seems relatively easy, but duplicating the existing telephone pole cabling and drops into people's houses seems to be very capital intensive. There's no reason for every ISP to have their own cables on telephone lines. Unless I'm fundamentally misunderstanding how those connections work (which is very possible).