Commissioner O'Rielly Gets Defensive When Experts Call Him Out

In Oct, Federal Communications Commissioner Michael O’Rielly accused municipal networks, including Chattanooga’s EPB Fiber Optics, of violating the First Amendment by limiting subscribers free speech. Journalists and organizations who know better were quick to correct him. In a Dec 13, 2018 blog post, he lashed out at his critics and tried to defend or explain his earlier comments, but once again missed the mark.

In his newest commentary, Commissioner O’Rielly dramatically describes local decisions to invest in broadband infrastructure as “flirting with a perverse form of socialism.” He goes on to state that publicly owned networks deter private entities from entering the market. He’s correct if we only consider the large, corporate Internet service providers (ISPs) that refuse to compete with anyone on order to preserve the characteristics monopolies created through concentration of power: shoddy customer service, unchecked rates, and lackluster Internet access. If we look at private ISPs more interested in serving the local community than in boosting share prices, however, we see some healthy competition. Contrary to what Commissioner O'Rielly claims, when local communities invest in infrastructure, it often encourages private invetment.