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There used to be something similar around telephone lines in the US, where bell had to let competitors use the lines at cost or something similar, but that way
by joshAg 6y ago
There used to be something similar around telephone lines in the US, where bell had to let competitors use the lines at cost or something similar, but that way tends to lie madness because of fights over what the actual cost of maintenance of the infra is and how much of that cost should be borne by the actual owner and how much they can charge middlemen carriers (for lack of better term).
It's extra sad because it didn't have to be this way for internet, but the US chose to privatise public internet infra back under clinton and then double and tripled down under bush. Meanwhile, it still maintains at least 1 set of infra for itself (I don't know if siprnet and jwics use separate cables).
- mikepurvis 6y agoI don't think it necessarily has to be madness, but you do need a competent and appropriately-separate regulating body overseeing the system and setting prices/rules that are fair to all the participants. In Canada, that body is the CRTC. I think they largely do a good job, though some of it ends up in the courts, and TekSavvy happily engages customers by bumping monthly rates up or down in response to the rule changes, and encouraging us to write our elected representatives if we like or dislike it. Examples: https://www.teksavvy.com/in-the-news/2019-press-releases/teksavvy-to-customers-we-lowered-your-internet-bill-thank-the-crtc/ https://www.teksavvy.com/in-the-news/2019-press-releases/tek... https://www.teksavvy.com/in-the-news/2020-press-releases/teksavvy-demands-immediate-refund-from-bell-rogers-after-fca-rejects-dubious-appeals-of-crtc-wholesale-rate-decision/ https://www.teksavvy.com/in-the-news/2020-press-releases/tek...
- joshAg 6y agoIt doesn't have to be no, but having it incentivizes both sides to spend time and money on capturing the regulatory authority to tip the scales in their favor, and american companies are really great at regulatory capture.