This article prompted me to read more about pole access rights, and this article[1] seems interesting and informative.<p>The question it begs, though, is why must a pure ISP be classified as a cable provider or telecommunications provider? It seems clear (and is made explicit in the article I have linked) that a good portion of the problems surrounding this issue come from applying yesterday's regulations to today's technologies.<p>Why is the following not an option:
Add a new classification of utility for ISPs and allow them utility pole access at either one of the existing rates or a new one.<p>Why is regulation according to Tittle II (a contentious issue) a necessary prerequisite for ISP access to utility polls (a competitive boon wanted by pretty much all internet customers)?<p>[1]<a href="http://www.kandutsch.com/articles/access-to-utility-poles-for-ftth-providers" rel="nofollow">http://www.kandutsch.com/articles/access-to-utility-poles-fo...</a>
Current coverage is the north side of Kansas City, a suburb of Provo, Utah, and part of Austin, TX. That's all. Google talks big, Google Fiber seems to be more about hype and politics than installation.<p>Verizon got a lot further with fiber-to-the-home, with coverage for about 12% of households in their territory, before they gave up on FIOS expansion. It wasn't making money.<p>Sonic.net makes money with their fiber to the home system, but they only have a few cities around Santa Rosa, CA installed, and are trying for three neighborhoods in San Francisco. Maybe it pays because they don't spend so much on PR.
It will be difficult to make any change in this to open up for alternatives like Google; there's so much entrenched interest/power among cable MSOs and telcos. Hence, the best shot at succeeding is just reclassifying. This would be fantastic, and flip a switch to enable significantly more competition.
I wonder how much of this statement, if any, is intended to scare the telecoms into not pressing this issue any more. Ina strategy that was probably intended to get Google to commit or get out of the market, they might not like the direction Google takes.
Meanwhile in civilized world (Europe): Poland/Warsaw, Regulatory body prevented UPC Cablecom, European cable giant, from completely taking over local competitor. UPC was forced to sell hardware infrastructure gained in the merge, and obligated to lease it for at least 12 months after the sale.<p>"In May 2013 Netia acquired from UPC Polska a part of former Aster cable operator’s network, which was classified
for resale according to the decision of the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection
(UOKiK) as of September 5, 2011 approving the acquisition of Aster cable operator by UPC Polska.
Netia purchased from UPC Polska and UPC Poland Holding BV 100% of shares in Centrina Sp. z o.o. and
Dianthus Sp. z o.o., which own cable networks in Warsaw and Krakow reaching a total of 446,000 homes passed.
The transaction has been treated as a purchase of network assets and related liabilities with a net valuation of
PLN 5.8m. Simultaneously, UPC Polska concluded with Centrina and Dianthus a 12-month network rental
agreement in order to ensure service continuity to its customers during a transition period. Total consideration
payable to Netia Group for this network rental amounts to PLN 4.5m. Moreover, Netia will receive discounts on
certain ongoing commercial agreements between the Netia Group and UPC Polska. These discounts are
estimated to amount to PLN 16.4m and will be recognized as they are received."<p>Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) - sounds pretty alien to all USians, doesnt it? :)<p>Result: 300Mbit/s internet is $17/month. 300Mbit internet + A la carte TV (YES, about $1.5 per 1-17 channel bundles you can freely pick from, 170 channels in total) starts at $20/month.<p><a href="http://giga-kablowka.pl/" rel="nofollow">http://giga-kablowka.pl/</a>