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1. Comment - Supreme Court: Cable Can Stay Closed

   (Jun 27, 2005 - 4:01 PM)

   Taxpayer money generally is not used to install cable lines. The local government negotiates a franchise agreement with the cable company, where the cable company gets the right to put lines up on the poles in exchange for money, taxes, Public/Educational channels, etc. While there is some cost to the government, this is all covered by the taxes paid on the service and/or amounts paid/services provided under the franchise agreements.
   
   The world has changed a lot since the initial decision concerning telcos. Back then, they were a strong monopoly, and there wasn't any alternatives. Today for broadband many areas have competition between cable and DSL, with wireless shaping up to compete in the future, and for video, you have satellite and soon the telcos are moving into the same market using their DSL or FTTH projects. With telephony you have your traditional telcos, your pure-VoIP providers, cable companies, and cellular service.
   
   It's time to pull more of the regulations out of the communications industry as it becomes less and less monopolistic.