There's an easy solution to the last-mile problem, which is for communities to own the infrastructure and operate it as a non-profit.
Believe me, people would do that if they were getting sufficiently screwed by telcos and if it were legal.
Actually, the former condition is already satisfied, but the latter is (basically) not.
Though there have been lots of municipal broadband efforts, which is a point in my favor, here. The telcos fight them tooth and nail using the legal system.
That is just another example of a legal monopoly (as opposed to a natural monopoly---no such thing).
The solution is for the lines to be operated prioritizing the community before profit, yes. We've agreed on the fundamentals but now differ in imagination of the size of the community.
Why not extend such egality to all citizens? And why do people have to get "screwed by telcos" first before it can happen?
Believe me, people would do that if they were getting sufficiently screwed by telcos and if it were legal.
Actually, the former condition is already satisfied, but the latter is (basically) not.
Though there have been lots of municipal broadband efforts, which is a point in my favor, here. The telcos fight them tooth and nail using the legal system.
That is just another example of a legal monopoly (as opposed to a natural monopoly---no such thing).