FCC's Powell On Monopolies

A reader writes: "According to this Washington Post article, the FCC's Michael Powell wants to do via rulemaking what Congress wouldn't - give a big wet kiss to the Baby Bells. Proposed rules would exempt future investments in broadband from unbundling requirements that make competitive local exchange carriers like Covad viable, instead considering (pretending?) that cable, satellite, DSL, and whatever future broadband the Bells choose to deploy are sufficient competition. Says Powell: "our greatest challenge in promoting broadband is deciding how best to stimulate enormous private sector investment." Consumer advocates are of course not amused."

Comments

Oh no...

[/cypher]

Could this destroy all the benefits consumers have received from the deregulation of the telecommunications industry!?!

Oh, nevermind. I guess we're still waiting for that competition in local service to really kick in.

At least he's honest.

[Black Parrot]

> Says Powell: "our greatest challenge in promoting broadband is deciding how best to stimulate enormous private sector investment."

I have long held that the US government is a "government of the shareholders, by the shareholders, and for the shareholders".

He seems to agree, except that he thinks that's a good thing.