Big Cable's "nightmare" scenario looks a lot like dealing with Comcast now

The National Cable and Telecommunications Association posted a hilarious tweet depicting Internet service providers (ISPs) waiting in line to ask the government for permission to increase speeds and offer new services. The problem is that to many people, it already seems like Comcast and other large broadband providers are acting like arrogant monopolies.

At the heart of the network neutrality debate is a disagreement about the relationship between regulation and monopoly. The liberal view is that big broadband providers are de facto monopolies, and that regulations are needed to prevent them from abusing their monopoly power. The conservative response is that regulations cause monopolies. More regulations will make the problem worse, while deregulation will promote competition and innovation.