The War on Upstart Fiber Internet Providers (chrishacken.com)

Article summary

The article discusses the challenges faced by upstart fiber internet providers, including hostile city utility offices, litigious competitors, and resistance to change. The author shares their personal experience of building internet infrastructure in underserved areas. The article highlights the difficulties of deploying fiber optic internet in rural areas. The author also mentions the importance of municipal broadband and the need for better representation in local government.

Main themes

• internet infrastructure
• municipal broadband
• government influence
• lobbying
• rural internet access
• fiber optic deployment
• regulatory capture
• local involvement
• technological innovation
• broadband mapping
• incumbent power
• representative democracy
• oligarchy
• voting
• systemic change
• corruption
• root access
• hacking the system
• disruption
• innovation
• progress
• regulation
• deregulation
• market forces
• public interest
• private interest
• conflict of interest
• accountability
• transparency
• representation
• participation
• engagement
• activism
• advocacy
• reform
• revolution
• evolution
• incremental change
• disruptive change
• paradigm shift
• future of the internet
• future of governance
• future of democracy

What commenters say

• Some people believe that the current system of internet infrastructure is flawed and that a new approach, such as an 'Uber for ISPs', is needed to bring about change.
• Others argue that the government is functional and that voting and local involvement can bring about positive change.
• There is a perception that the government has been influenced by lobbying and that this has led to a lack of representation for the people.
• Some commenters think that municipal broadband is a viable solution to the problem of internet access in rural areas.
• The use of new technologies, such as micro-trenching and direct-burying of fiber, could make it cheaper and easier to deploy fiber optic internet.
• The current broadband map is seen as inaccurate and unreliable, and some people think that a new map is needed to accurately reflect the state of internet access in the US.
• Some people are skeptical about the ability of new companies to bring about change and think that the incumbents will always find a way to maintain their power.