[wmf]

Why not have free market all along?

That's nice to say in retrospect, but simply deregulating rights of way and video franchises wouldn't address the fact that strong incumbents exist today. Overbuilding an incumbent like AT&T or Comcast will cost billions and the reward for this investment is 20-30% market share. I think we're dealing with genuine natural monopolies here.

[tc]

Being a competitor in this industry, I'm always surprised by the simplistic treatment telecom issues receive even by technical people.

I suppose it is the difference between being a driver on a road, or perhaps even the manufacturer of an automobile, and knowing anything about the messy business of road construction.

For one thing, everyone seems to focus just on consumer internet. But this is hardly the whole picture. Most people spend over half of their waking hours at work. To the consternation of many employers, people probably spend more hours on the internet at work than at home. And the market for business internet services is highly competitive and quite far from monopolistic. It perhaps shouldn't be surprising that a smaller number of names stand out in the consumer space -- it seems to happen with all consumer products.

Further, even the argument you posed is self-contradictory. Do you know how much a 30% market share is worth? It's worth enough that plenty of people are building to compete in that space right now.

[wmf]

everyone seems to focus just on consumer internet.

Because evil is lurking there, and we want to stamp it out. AFAIK business Internet service has always been neutral so there's not much to discuss.

Do you know how much a 30% market share is worth? It's worth enough that plenty of people are building to compete in that space right now.

I hope so, but I don't see any fiber coming down my street.