What If You Threw a Broadband Party and Everybody Came?

[Commentary] Incumbent broadband service providers were at the helm influencing lots of legislation and what little regulation there is, which has collectively contributed to the United States' woeful broadband standing in the world. They refused to deliver broadband in many parts of the country while making it extremely difficult for competitors everywhere. Yes, 2,200 applicants bear witness to the fact that we don't need the large incumbents to bring broadband to those communities that incumbents have ignored or poorly served. So go ahead and invite them to play a role in the future of broadband, but don't bend over backwards to meet their demands that do not align with the public's best interest. There are obviously many others who can step into the breach.