Broadband access in America is spotty even though it is essential infrastructure like electric power and telephone service. No one doubts that electric power and telephone service will be available when they rent or buy a home, so, why is broadband service different? The answer lies in federal regulations: electric service and land lines are regulated as essential utilities, whereas broadband Internet service is not, and the reason for the difference is purely political.

When telephone service was first rolled out in the late nineteenth century it was unregulated, and the service providers operated wherever they smelled money: high-density urban areas. Electric power rolled out the same way. These services did not become ubiquitous, interconnected, and affordable by all until they became regulated during the implementation of the New Deal in the 1930s. The incumbent monopolists squawked, but, political forces were not on their side then, and, our nation benefitted. When these technologies became essential our government stepped in on the side of the consumer and made them ubiquitous through regulation. In the case of broadband this did not happen because powerful political forces created monopolies, and large swathes of our country lack broadband access. Utilities provide services that enable economic growth for all of us regardless of zip code. Broadband Internet access should be a utility too.

This is why I am amused when my neighbors in Temple stare across the Wilton town line and marvel at my broadband service. If we elected politicians who represented the citizens of our country, then, broadband would be regulated just like electricity, water, sewers, roads, etc. The simple reason why access to broadband is spotty is because service providers prefer to choose their customers just like corrupt politicians use gerrymandering to choose their voters.