  gwion wild colonial boy Premium,ExMod 2001-08 join:2000-12-28 Pittsburgh, PA
| Reform might not be a bad idea...
The fact remains, numerous local governments are still in bed with their franchised monopoly CTV providers. They're not issuing new franchises, as a matter of policy. The old days of de jure monopoly are over, granted, but de facto monopolies are still almost the normative case, among CTV providers and their municipalities.
This goes beyond the cash streams of franchise fees. Those would come, from all providers. It goes to lobbying, at the grass roots level...
Reform's not indicated, it's shouted for. Perhaps not in the precise form that the telcoms would like to see it, granted, but in some form.
In real fact, the reform that's shouted for is in lobbying regulation. Where is the line... the one between "lobbying" and "bribery and blackmail"?
My favorite suggestion for reform? Make organized, professional lobbying, on any side, a felony. That's real reform.  -- Semper Eadem -- ... For Fergus rules the brazen cars, And rules the shadows of the wood, And the white breast of the dim sea And all dishevelled wandering stars. |