Municipal Net Access: Unfair Competition?

ruvreve writes: "Net Economy has an article about how Los Angles is attempting to provide the ability for end-users to have a choice between multiple ISPs for high-speed bandwidth access, among other things. The article talks about how a city has an unfair advantage to offer such services. Unfair because the government monitors and regulates the cable and phone company but at the same time wants to compete for their customers. If it gets 100Mbit access to my front door it HAS to be good!" This issue's been raised a few times before, but the article raises some points worth thinking about.

Comments

Re:This sort of thing has happened before.

[Latent IT]

Heh. Uh, well... exceptions to the rule... *mutter*

Erm.

Well, you see, uh...

Oh well. Maybe he got it on with the UPS guy's girl, or something. ;p

"This is unfair.....it's just sooooo unfair......"

[Dr_Marvin_Monroe]

"....it's just so unfair.....I mean....we worked really hard to box in these customers and make them accept our terrible service and with no choice of providers....now the mean bully util's are totally wrecking our whole business model!.....what's capitalism coming to when you have to compete...sounds more like communism to me...."

Re:Who owns the roads?

[leviramsey]

There exist a few turnpikes, toll-roads, and troll bridges out there

Hey, when I cross a bridge, the toll attendant doesn't give me a receipt that's "fr15t p0st b1tche5!" printed on a goatse.cx background.

Nor do they give me a receipt that eight miles wide, either...

*groan*

Privatize everything!

[aquarian]

I'm for privatizing everything, including the sidewalks. And the best way to ensure complete sidewalk construction is through forced adoption of a standard sidewalk shoe, which you can buy from AT&T/TW for $400/pair. Laces are extra.

100mbit

[Rumagent]

"If it gets 100Mbit access to my front door it HAS to be good!"

I would worship satan if that would bring 100 mbit any closer to my door step.