Internet Connectivity: Scarcity vs Abundance?

In the 1990’s I used DSL to connect my home to the Internet and I lived so close to the AT&T switch that they had to actually do work to slow down my connection for the price I was paying. The faucet being tightened to slow the rainfall to a drop, reminded me of the artificial scarcity that was created.

In the digital era, where internet connectivity is as vital as water and electricity, there’s a growing debate on how to ensure universal broadband access. Two contrasting approaches—offering free apartment Wi-Fi and addressing the broader broadband affordability gap—highlight a deeper conversation about the role of infrastructure, community ownership, and the pitfalls of subsidizing incumbent internet service providers (ISPs).

The Free Apartment Wi-Fi Approach: Convenience Over Sustainability

Free apartment Wi-Fi, often bundled into HOA or rental fees, provides a seemingly convenient solution for residents in multi-dwelling units (MDUs). This model, as discussed in the MDU Commons framework, centralizes internet expenses, securing wholesale contracts with middle-mile providers and distributing costs across tenants​.

While this approach simplifies billing and lowers individual barriers to access, it often reinforces reliance on incumbent ISPs. These providers frequently offer limited, high-cost wholesale plans, perpetuating artificial scarcity of bandwidth. This practice restricts competition and innovation, leaving residents with minimal control over service quality, speed, and long-term affordability​​.

Addressing the Broadband Affordability Gap: A Holistic Strategy

The broadband affordability gap stems from systemic underinvestment in underserved areas, particularly rural and low-income urban communities. Programs like the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provide temporary relief by subsidizing monthly internet costs for eligible families. However, these subsidies primarily benefit the incumbent ISPs responsible for the digital divide in the first place​​.

By channeling funds into corporate coffers without addressing the root issues—lack of competition and infrastructure innovation—ACP and similar programs perpetuate a cycle of dependency. Subsidies mask the inflated prices charged by ISPs, which result from their monopolistic control over infrastructure​​.

The Case for Community-Owned Internet Infrastructure

To break this cycle, we must embrace abundance-oriented solutions, such as community-owned broadband networks. These networks, increasingly common in municipalities and cooperatives, prioritize public interest over profit. They empower communities to build and control their infrastructure, ensuring affordable, reliable, and equitable access​​.

For example, community broadband initiatives like Vermont’s Communications Union Districts (CUDs) and Chattanooga’s EPB Fiber Optics demonstrate how public ownership can deliver gigabit speeds at lower costs than commercial ISPs. These networks also foster local economic growth, create jobs, and close the digital divide in ways subsidies alone cannot​​.

Public Packet Infrastructure: A Vision for Connectivity

As advocated by thinkers like Bob Frankston, public packet infrastructure reimagines broadband as a utility akin to roads or water systems. This model emphasizes separating the physical infrastructure from service delivery, allowing open access for any provider to offer services on a neutral network. Such a framework fosters competition, drives innovation, and reduces costs through economies of scale​​.

The Path Forward

Free apartment Wi-Fi and subsidy-driven programs like ACP may offer short-term solutions, but they fall short of addressing the structural issues perpetuating the digital divide. The future lies in community ownership and public packet infrastructure, which promise not only universal access but also the innovation and economic benefits that come with abundant connectivity.

Investing in public broadband networks and fostering policies that treat the internet as a utility will ensure that digital equity becomes a reality—not just a fleeting promise dependent on corporate goodwill. The time to act is now, leveraging available funding and community-driven models to build a more connected, inclusive future.