“However, it is deeply insidious for us to continue down the path of dictating what services private companies must offer.”
It’s not a “private company” when you are enjoying government controlled access to public infrastructure via cable systems.
Would you say the electric company is “private” and should be unregulated? How about water service?
Cable is a PUBLIC utility. Private companies are allowed to use public infrastructure... but they MUST be responsive to the public. We don’t own the content, but we own the means of transmission.
ABC, CBS, and NBC might be private companies... but they don’t exist without a license to broadcast on the public airwaves. That’s why they’re also subject to regulation.
Why shouldn’t cable companies be subject to regulation? I own their means of transmission. It’s my street.
Public Infrastructure?
Do you mean the roads?
Cable companies pay franchise fees to the towns for that privilege. Cable companies pay property taxes on the equipment on those poles. The poles are not public property. They belong to the telephone and electric companies. Cable companies pay rent on those poles.
We built cable plant under the roads at our expense. We dug them up, we paid for the materials, labor, and police. The town gives up nothing. The town, usually, makes out like a bandit.
No, cable TV is not a utility. Get your power to your home from someone else? Nope. Get gas from someone else? Nope. Get entertainment services from someone else? Sure: Satellite, telephone companies, internet, redbox, etc.
You do not understand what a utility is.
In for a penny, in for a pound, I guess. Nice to be a statist.