I’m looking for information about this topic, specifically focusing on Internet ISP businesses (comparisons to utility companies and such are also welcome).
I’ve “heard” about how the government is responsible for many of the cable ISP (and cable TV?) monopolies in certain areas out there but I want to verify whether there’s any truth to it, and if there is I want to know why and how this works. (Or, doesn’t work, heh.)
Anyone have any links, comments, articles or books on the subject?
The city where I live granted a franchise monopoly to Time-Warner, and it’s only been recently that there’s been any competition to it other than satellite, and that’s AT&T U-Verse (which isn’t available everywhere in the city).
In fact, the city voted for a ban on above-ground boxes in the grass strip between the sidewalk and the road (which is where the U-Verse boxes go) for several months. This was done, unspokenly, to support the monopoly it granted to T-W.
See, things like this anger me. WHY would they even do that? Just flat out corruption, special interests and bribery? Was there some other stupid reason? Well, I can guarantee it is stupid, whatever the reason… but I do need to understand how their ridiculous thought process is working.
The T-W franchise helps to fund the local access channels–it’s part of the contract. No monopoly, no special funding.