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They are also worried about reputation. A bad reputation costs them users. Standing up for users gets more customers.

If they could do these things in secret you might be right, but the subpoenas are public. And their objection is even more public.

I love that the reaction of their customers drives their policies, that's exactly what I want in a company.

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Reputation counts for little in their virtual local monopolies. Many places it's either them or 3g or satellite. Then again, the public at large doesn't care about these issues.

No, they usually compete with Verizon, AT&T and other local telco's.

I doubt this is true in a lot of places. Around here it's basically Time Warner Cable or some form of wireless.

Only in metro areas and suburbs. In most other places, it's a single provider and you're lucky if that provider decides to offer service to your house.

For internet in many places it's them or them. Unless you are ok with very slow or very expensive.

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