> I think there's a good argument for making the Internet be an utility like electricity is, but I think that also means there won't be anymore competition effectively (at least in terms of deployment), and they will upgrade their networks much more slowly
It depends. Some of my academic work looks at network neutrality and ISP investment incentives in the long-run (as well as the effect on content providers and consumers) when the ISP is a geographic monopoly. The investment incentives (improvements to bandwidth) should theoretically improve over a net-neutral policy if network neutrality is dismissed, but it's not guaranteed to be all that great.
Intuitively, if we really wanted to see innovation, we should do away with the typical geographical (natural) monopolies we see with Comcast, et al. For example, for years Austin plagued with internet problems and (especially) relatively low bandwidth offerings compared to places like Dallas (with FiOS, etc.). However, quickly after Austin was chosen by Google as a place for Google fiber, AT&T began offering GB/S speeds (as part of Uverse? Not sure the exact name). The point is -- if we want to see improvements in the network, opening up competition will encourage firms to innovate.
A fun story to consider is how MCI started out against the monopoly AT&T.
It depends. Some of my academic work looks at network neutrality and ISP investment incentives in the long-run (as well as the effect on content providers and consumers) when the ISP is a geographic monopoly. The investment incentives (improvements to bandwidth) should theoretically improve over a net-neutral policy if network neutrality is dismissed, but it's not guaranteed to be all that great.
Intuitively, if we really wanted to see innovation, we should do away with the typical geographical (natural) monopolies we see with Comcast, et al. For example, for years Austin plagued with internet problems and (especially) relatively low bandwidth offerings compared to places like Dallas (with FiOS, etc.). However, quickly after Austin was chosen by Google as a place for Google fiber, AT&T began offering GB/S speeds (as part of Uverse? Not sure the exact name). The point is -- if we want to see improvements in the network, opening up competition will encourage firms to innovate.
A fun story to consider is how MCI started out against the monopoly AT&T.