To Regulate Broadband Or Not?

from the that-is-the-question dept

Over the past few months we've brought up the question of broadband regulation a number of times, and there's no shortage of opinions on the topic. It seems, however, that many in the tech industry have decided to side with the Baby Bells and push for less broadband regulation - meaning that the Bells wouldn't have to open up their networks to competitors. The theory is that by keeping the networks in the hands of the Baby Bells, they'll have the incentives to offer more broadband to customers. The competing argument is that by forcing the Bells to open up, then lots of companies can offer broadband, driving competition, leading to more consumer options - and thus, more broadband. The tech companies, though, seem to think that (at this point), the Baby Bells with all their money are the most likely winners in getting broadband offerings out more rapidly. At the same time, Dan Gillmor is saying that this is a mistake. He says that the tech companies are settling, because they're afraid they can't get anything otherwise. However, he recommedns calling the Baby Bells on their bluff to stop rolling out broadband - as he bets they won't do that. At the same time, he points out that broadband competition is likely to come from various wireless solutions, so it won't matter what happens in the wired broadband industry.