6 ms·
How then, with this powerful backstory, did Wheeler choose not to unbundle last mile access? The cable networks are still closed.
by eggnet 12y ago
How then, with this powerful backstory, did Wheeler choose not to unbundle last mile access?
The cable networks are still closed.
- MagicWishMonkey 12y agoPolitical capital is a finite resource.
- gnoway 12y agoI wonder about that too. In my mind at least, there is a distinction between requiring neutral treatment of traffic routing through a network and requiring an operator to let a competitor hook up their equipment in your facilities and sell a competitive service using infrastructure you laid. The latter IMO is a lot less fair, even though my personal experience is that I had more choices for service when it was done w/ DSL.
- pyre 12y agoThe latter makes sense for DSL, but most of the cable monopolies are not government-granted at the Federal level. Some localities have a cable monopoly, but the local government is responsible for that. Yes, the cable companies have gotten government hand-outs to build out infrastructure, but teasing apart which of that was public and private money (and therefore which would be 'fair' to force open) would be a nightmare.
- eggnet 12y agoMany things that are worth doing are difficult. This is one of them.
- pyre 12y agoMy point was mostly that the argument for doing so w/ DSL is more cut-and-dry in that most/all of the infrastructure was laid under a nation-wide government-granted monopoly. The Federal government weighing in on the matter makes sense.
- eggnet 12y agoI agree with you except where you imply that the Federal government weighing in on cable doesn't make sense.
- tomswartz07 12y agoI think it's a case of 'one thing at a time'. There's a lot of change packed into this, and I'm sure Wheeler's plan will be to keep the changes and shakeups rolling.