There is one other factor in the net neutrality debate that has been overlooked.

In the early ’90s, the RBOCs lobbied the utilities commissions for rate increases that were meant to fund the last mile buildout of the “information superhighway”. The rate increases were approved, but the work was never done and the money (which we are still paying in higher rates) was simply pocketed by the telcos.

I’m sick of getting ripped off when buying network access.

The telecom bill will also strip local governments of their ability to franchise cable operations — instead, it sets up a national franchising system headquartered in DC. This is why there are scores of local governments that are also opposed to this telecom rewrite.

Agreement on Werner’s talk.