jap
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join:2003-08-10
038xx
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to hottboiinnc
Re: But can they?
If the city owns the infrastructure then they have increased clout by virtue of controlling distribution access. But if competitors want to find another way in then a muni govt cannot easily tell it's residents they cannot buy it.
Usually the infras were developed under monopolies (bells, high-voltage) controlled by state PUCs - not local munis. Those infra (the poles being critical, of course) continue to be under de-regulation influences - so it does vary regionally. In all cases, however, non-compete clauses are time limited - they don't go on indefinitely.
You say "it also keeps problems with cutting cables and gas lines up. That's why Duluth does it." Well, ...achem..., maybe. It also may be because the local faux monopoly has bought-off town hall. Sorry for my hard-bitten NE cynicism but I left the upper mid-west many, many years ago. |
