That’s because distribution is currently “open” for some definition of “open”, due to the advent of internet protocols and risk of legislation.
If the US cable TV companies wanted to shut down access from Apple/Netflix/Disney and force them to go via the cable TV company like they used to, they technically could (cable TV internet is the only high download bandwidth option for most Americans). They wouldn’t brazenly do this by shutting down access completely, but they are doing this via throttling and I could see rate limiting certain services in the future unless you pay more, etc. Or Comcast can exempt itself from data caps.
At the end of the day, the owner of the pipe that comes into your house or the wireless signals has the technical power to control what comes in and out and at what cost. Which is why it should be a publicly owned utility.
If the US cable TV companies wanted to shut down access from Apple/Netflix/Disney and force them to go via the cable TV company like they used to, they technically could (cable TV internet is the only high download bandwidth option for most Americans). They wouldn’t brazenly do this by shutting down access completely, but they are doing this via throttling and I could see rate limiting certain services in the future unless you pay more, etc. Or Comcast can exempt itself from data caps.
At the end of the day, the owner of the pipe that comes into your house or the wireless signals has the technical power to control what comes in and out and at what cost. Which is why it should be a publicly owned utility.