Negative manifestations of market-based vs. publicly owned advanced telecommunications infrastructure policy

• Lack of coordinated federal advanced telecommunications infrastructure policy. 
• Highly fragmented deployment of fiber only where most profitable, highest ARPU.
• Advanced telecommunications marketed as “broadband” and sold in individually priced speed tiers.
• Widespread complaints and media coverage of poor access, “slow speeds” high monthly cost, very expensive connection fees quoted by cablecos.
• Localities adversely impacted by advanced telecommunications infrastructure deficits, attempt to address on their own with federal and state grants amid constituent tax/fee resistance due to adverse demographics/socioeconomics. Spawns cottage industry of consultants conducting feasibility studies and high level estimates. Vast majority result in no infrastructure construction or commitment to serve all addresses.
• One time, highly restricted federal and state grant programs instead of permanent high-cost subsidy mechanism.
• No federal or state policy of universal service. Universal service legislation does not advance. Years of dashed political promises of universal service. Sloganeering in lieu of actionable policy.
• Issue muddling, deflection/distraction from infrastructure to secondary issues:
• "Broadband adoption"
• Digital equity/digital skills
• Net neutrality
• Incumbent protectionism via broadband mapping, inflated service area and throughput claims, “ground truthing” speed tests.
• Reliance upon interim technology (DSL over copper) wireless technologies (fixed and mobile wireless, satellite) vs. FTTP.
• Capitulation to investor-owned incumbent provider control of telecom policy. Influence dominates over merits of policy that allow minority shareholder interests to prevail over broader public interest.
• Misapprehension: Complaints of market “monopolies” that fail to recognize telecom infrastructure like other utilities functions as natural monopoly. Feeds into privately owned provider paradigm that advanced telecommunications infrastructure a competitive market and government should therefore not own advanced telecommunications infrastructure.