Let's Keep Comcast Happy

Susan Crawford, author of Captive Audience, outlines a situation where large telecommunications companies have divided up the digital landscape, making it extremely expensive, especially for low-income families. She discusses the digital divide expanding because large rural areas are without Internet access and low-income families are unable to afford the access. She makes an argument for a public-private initiative with some regulation to develop high-speed, affordable Internet access similar to the rural electrification act during the Roosevelt administration of the 1930’s. 
Instead of ensuring that everyone in America can compete in a global economy, instead of narrowing the divide between rich and poor, instead of supporting competitive free markets for American inventions that use information--instead, that is, of ensuring that America will lead the world in the information age--U.S. politicians have chosen to keep Comcast and its fellow giants happy.
She discussed the challenge to close the digital divide in her Captive Audience book recently on the Moyers and Company show on PBS.

 She also cites an example of the power of the large telecommunications where Google Fiber in Kansas City has been prevented from distributing the major sports channels because of pressure by Time-Warner. The broadcast is new, but the reference to Google Fiber's inability to secure major channels and content is a bit dated.




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