Monday, March 31, 2014

Vox Interview with Susan Crawford Explored

Today, Ezra Klein—Editor & Chief at vox.com—sat down with Susan Crawford, author of Captive Audience: The Telecom Industry and Monopoly Power in the New Gilded Age. The main theme was whether or not the there should be a public option for the internet. It was a truly enlightening conversation, and I would highly recommend giving it a watch.

In the interview they wrangled with various important topics. For example, how a 1GB per second fiber telecom infrastructure could be a platform for the next economy, or how the current telecom monopolies like Comcast and Time Warner are diminishing America's overall internet accessibility, and how a lack of competition in the telecom industry is causing America's rank in internet speed to drop to 28th worldwide. However, the one thing I feel was left out was how faster internet speeds will increase productivity.

Even just from an anecdotal perspective, it would make sense that with faster internet comes at least a marginal increase in productivity. This doesn't even account for enhancements in technology based in a fiber infrastructure that will allow us to be more innovative and efficient. Imagine sitting down at your desk, and everything works 100 times faster. The fact of the matter is, if we have faster internet speeds, we will get more done.

A public option for the internet is truly a great idea. The critics will call it socialism, and a "Government takeover of the internet", but let's not forget who invented the internet in the first place. The importance of enhancing our broadband capabilities cannot be understated. Comcast, Verizon, and Time Warner be warned, because I foresee anti-trust laws coming your way.


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