Is it really possible to have competition with this particular service since it’s not feasible for multiple companies to lay down multiple lines to compete? Communication is central to free speech, so I think the government is obligated to step in here and buy out the cable companies. I am for free markets for most services and products. I even think the government needs to start backing out of public education now since its possible to homeschool online and at libraries. But I would prefer a municipal cable company, co-operatively owned and run. I’ve heard of some rural co-ops doing really well. Free speech is just too damned important and access to communications for ALL is too damned important. (Not that we can trust the Federal government, either, but that’s a different problem.) If, and I’m just dreaming here, we nationalized the Federal Reserve, the Treasury could recall all those 0% loans that went to cable companies, which would probably bankrupt them, and then local municipalities could buy them out — with 0% interest loans from the US Treasury.