FCC Hints At Return To Open Access → Regulations only make a mess of things

Open Access depends on gov't regulators mandating that 3rd parties be sold access at cost. BUT, and this is a big BUT, they never get the cost number right. Either they mandate a number that is below cost - in which case the existing ISPs will declare open warfare on the 3rd parties and do everything they can(legally, of course) to make their offerings non-viable. Or, they will mandate a number that is real cost or above and the 3rd parties won't be able to come in at prices lower than the underlying incumbent ISP. And in that case, who will want their service.

End result: Regulations will not facilitate competition. But it will raise costs for everyone. And we will have to support a bunch more highly paid regulators and the lawyers that all the ISPs will have to hire to fight with the regulators.

So it really IS a win/win situation...!

Yay!

that's BS.the regulators are already in place, they just don't do their jobs.

Then ban the incumbent ISP. The company that owns the plant can't sell anything to households.

It only works if enforced. It worked great in Japan, France, etc etc

Problem is: We didn't enforce it.

And watch as new deployments dry up. Regulation that makes something less profitable (or not profitable at all) results in less of it.

Disagree.

If making faster last mile plant that enables content/ISPs to makes more households sign up is the only way to increase shareholder dividends, then thats what the last mile plant company will do. Behold the power of the all mightly dollar.

The evidence speaks for itself.

Indeed it does.

Thing is, it's still plenty profitable, so once they get over pouting and trying to get the lobbyists to change it back to the gravy train, they go ahead anyway. That's the problem with the TA1996. They whined and cried and the Govt. folded like a wet paper bag. We all lost.