02-15-2014, 10:02 AM
quote:
what prevents the subdivisions from pulling their own pre wire? and striking out on their own as a co-op
In theory: nothing.
In practice: the subdivisions can't even agree on road maintenance.
In reality: while the right-of-way issue is greatly simplified by the fact that the roadway is a contiguous lot held-in-commons, the poles installed therein are property of HELCO and/or Telcom.
Politics: if "we the people" threaten the cable monopoly, they will simply lobby for new legislation that hinders/prevents municipal/coop network deployment -- this has already happened in several states.
Irony: incumbent cable operators enjoy a government-granted monopoly -- even if they have no plans to ever deploy service. Yes: their monopoly includes never providing service, really should be "use it or lose it".