Lead, Follow, or Get out of the Way

While I side with Jim Baller on our need for an EXPLICIT, broad-based, comprehensive national broadband policy based on a national discussion of all interested parties on this vital strategic issue, I can't help but juxtapose that idea with what I see in these two posts that is revealing of the incumbent vision, and ask the reader - which POV most closely aligns with our ideals of an open, pluralistic, democratic society?

Esme describes what can only be seen as an IMPLICIT policy of giving telecom and cable incumbents free rein and continuing an advantaged position for them - in effect, the result is a pro-corporation, anti-consumer policy. Through its inaction to promote a national discussion and seek a more balanced middle way, the government frees the large players to execute their business plans on their own timeframes. And every year of inaction to create an inclusive strategy based on a balanced discussion equals a delay in broadband options for consumers and billions more in revenue for the incumbents. This is Laissez-Faire economics on steroids. I would argue that it is not inattention by government leaders either, but a defacto government policy on broadband, just not one that most consumers should favor.

The result is predictable (if depressing): 1) a redlined telecom fiber broadband network that serves the densest, most profitable territories; 2) urban cable broadband access available wherever their cable infrastructure happens to be (dense neighborhoods, but still wider distribution than newly laid telco fiber); 3) mobile internet access from cell carriers through expensive data plans, featuring Walled Gardens of content made available to cellphones tied to one specific cell plan provider's two-year lock-in service plan, with bandwidth sufficient for email and surfing the web - a plan almost exclusively tailored for limited use by the business traveler; and 4) slow, but growing adoption by municipalities of newer technologies like Wi Fi Mesh and WiMAX, in essence a work-around for this lack of an integrated national broadband policy, but one which is constrained by lack of access to unlicensed non-line of sight spectrum, which would lower costs and increase the value of these networks.

When there is no broad-based explicit policy, as Jim promotes, there is nevertheless an implicit policy in that vacuum. We should call this one as it is, an elitist unwritten policy of corporate protectionism. Seen in this light, it's no wonder that we hear arguments in Gary's post from the ATT executive against the need for unfettered end user equipment, and from the Verizon executive against the need for a government policy on broadband.

From their perspective, after all, things are going well and according to plan. Incumbents and beneficiaries of the status quo NEVER favor change that opens up markets, lowers costs, or provides customers with more freedom and power. That would be irrational and anathema to the interests of their shareholders; I understand it, but I don't like it.

Taking care of ALL the people, not just shareholders, is the government's job. It's most efficient on issues like broadband policy when national government leaders accept the mantle of leadership and take action based on principles - sometimes they have to take action to rein in corporate behavior that does not suit the broader national interest, even if it hurts them politically. But we haven't seen that in a long while.