You can't simultaneously advocate for superior free-market solutions and then complain when the government outcompetes the private sector.
Alternatively, I would argue that a municipal system is, in fact, fair competition. If a municipality decides that they, collectively, want to create and pay for a service due to lack of quality competition, then it is their right to do so. This has so far proven extremely effective, as even private services have improved in quality and price when it happens.
This is a win/win for the consumer. For me, they are the more important part of the equation.
My original comment very specifically said "If we actually had reasonable competition among local broadband". I'm well aware that we don't, and because we don't, I don't consider it anti-competitive to provide infrastructure that the private sector has failed to.
> Alternatively, I would argue that a municipal system is, in fact, fair competition. If a municipality decides that they, collectively, want to create and pay for a service due to lack of quality competition, then it is their right to do so.
If they can do so without charging people who don't use the service, then by all means, they should. For instance, start a broadband co-op.
Amazon just had a big contest on subsidies and the only exceptional thing about it was how brazen they were about it. Regulatory exceptions often are part of such deals.
> taxes (paid whether you use the service or not)
Monopolists call that "bundling". For example co-financing internet service by requiring you also pay for phone service.
The main difference is that a public service doesn't need to have profit maximizing as its primary goal.
No. Bundling means the product I want becomes more expensive, and therefore less competitive. Taxes means I have to pay for the product in any case, removing any competitive pressure.
The main difference is that a public service doesn't need to have profit maximizing as its primary goal.
Neither does a company, that's a myth. Plus, non-profits and coops exist.
"in which the laws and forces of supply and demand are free from any intervention by a government, price-setting monopoly, or other authority."
It would be awesome if we actually had a choice of provider, however you're generally limited to whatever ISP's 'turf' you fall into.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_market
EDIT: I just reread you comment and you're not claiming it's a free market <apologies>