> Ah yes. PON. The technology designed to block out competitor access to fiber infrastructure. There is nothing inherent in PON that prevents open-access netwo

> Ah yes. PON. The technology designed to block out competitor access to fiber infrastructure. There is nothing inherent in PON that prevents open-access network from being run: * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-access_network https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-access_network It's just that ILECs tend to be the ones that build out OSI Layer 1, and also tend to run the Layer 3 for customers to connect to the larger Internet. But this doesn't have to be the case: see Openreach in the UK: * https://www.openreach.com/broadband-network https://www.openreach.com/broadband-network Open-access can be done for a variety of reasons: > […] In some cases, an open access approach was adopted voluntarily (e.g., Spencer IA or Ashland OR), in others open access was mandated by state law (e.g., Grant County WA), while in many others, no open access is offered (e.g., Braintree MA). These case studies reflect a diversity of approaches that helps elucidate the relationship between open access and the technology/architecture used for the last-mile network, the business strategies employed by municipal communication service providers, and the regulatory environment in which the municipal networks operate. […] * PDF: http://people.csail.mit.edu/wlehr/Lehr-Papers_files/Lehr%20Sirbu%20Gillett%20Broadband%20Open%20Access.pdf http://people.csail.mit.edu/wlehr/Lehr-Papers_files/Lehr%20S... An outline of the five major ownership/operation models: * https://www.altmansolon.com/insights/the-case-for-open-access-providing-optionality-for-u-s-municipalities/ https://www.altmansolon.com/insights/the-case-for-open-acces...