The crux of your argument is that “multiplexing technologies makes it possible for exponential increases in amount of data being carried on the finite number of optic fibers.” Ergo, you come to the conclusion that ISP’s make plenty of money and should be forced to build out their networks to suit your vision of what it should be. Do you even know what “multiplexing technologies” are? Do you have any understanding of where the networks are headed? Because, it seems apparent to me, that you don’t. If the FCC reclassifies the non-regulated network as regulated it will be like throwing a pitcher of ice water on it. The rules for the regulated business are draconian in nature and unfair for the incumbents. That is the reason most all of the baby Bells nearly went belly up within a few years after divestiture causing service and innovation to suffer.
The last part of your argument is the silliest. You say, “those charges extorted from content providers will be passed on the consumers.” Seriously, do you really think it is all free just growing on some bandwidth tree out there somewhere? Someone is going to pay for it. But, the way you’re proposing it is that everyone pays. That in effect grants special status to those content providers that burn it the most, or possibly, just maybe, you can just “extort” the costs from the ISP’s.
Like I said, I don’t know much about cable but I do know telco. I can tell you without a doubt that the large telcos want you off of the traditional network.
There are limits as to what various facilities such as copper can accommodate and even some of the older fiber too. Those limits are/have/or are about to be reached. It all depends on your location and the services you’re requesting. The use of pair bonding in copper, and other tricks like that, can help prolong the inevitable a little while. But in the not too distant future it’ll stop being used all together.
Comparing now versus ten years ago is ridiculous. I (and you too) use vast amounts of data and services that we didn’t use then or even have available ten years ago. So yes costs go up. But don’t forget the other expenses like inflation, labor costs, regulation, ext., ext... Do you seriously expect to have all the goodies you have today and pay what you did ten years ago?
I guess we should just all adopt “Net Neutrality” as the new mantra for social equality the way “Hope and Change” was a few years ago.
