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How policy choices are affecting the quality of internet access in the U.S. according to Crawford
Susan Crawford discussed with Moyers about net neutrality, digital divide and the criticality of the internet in economic development. The policymakers have tried to foster competition by favoring a free market where there is no regulation. According to Crawford, these efforts of maintaining deregulation of the cable industry are causing the monopoly which is also increasing the product prices. Further, the policy is reducing innovation and increased price products in the cable industry. The regulators have failed to advance competition in the cable industry and Susan argues that this failure has been propagated by those hijacking the regulatory process. She compares the 19th-century railroad industry to the cable industries today. Both have been significant in the daily activities however due to the lack of regulation of the telecom, the Federal Communication Communications Commission was formed. From the beginning, the regulators did not have adequate resources and faced threats of attack. Crawford wants to present an argument that favors the regulation so that it can reduce monopoly, reduce costs and increase innovation. She calls for the Congress to intervene in these systematic problems that have grave future implications.
Net neutrality would enable the internet providers to provide services of better quality at affordable prices. Regulation is very important during the emergence of new technology.

Regulation ensures that the competition field is leveled for all providers and there is a free flow of information. Crawford believes that the wired and wireless groups should not be competitors but rather, should complement each other. The “common carriage” regulation allows everyone to access the products at reasonable prices. The monopoly providers are segmenting the country and many homes have been left unserved. The state will, therefore, incur high costs to fill these gaps.
Crawford accuses the government of having paved the way for the influential media conglomerate to put their personal interests before the public interest. The conglomerate breach rules, raise prices and make competition stifle. (Crawford n. p.) Consequently, we are all at the mercy of the monopolies and the gap of inequality widens. We are captive of the monopolistic companies that have no regulation and are free to do whatever they want.
Crawford is worried over the future access of fast internet. The trend caused by the existing policies is likely to cause selective market access where the access will be to the rich individuals alone. (Crawford, n. p.) She expresses concern with the current market structure has problems with the high-speed internet. The merger approval process; the main problem is that the firms need to have a political favor for their merger to be approved. The American communications are experiencing a major critical problem exacerbated by politicians who are ignoring public interest. Companies that face little competition like Comcast and Time Warner are enjoying the pricing power. She reviews the history of the telegraph and telephone industry and argues that internet providers are also not supposed to charge different prices. The country can still take advantage of the Federal Communications Commission to shape the communication policies.
Further, for Crawford, fast wireless should not be a substitute for the high-speed internet. The mediocrity trend being experienced in the American communications is not healthy for innovation and a new approach is needed. Americans should have a realistically priced 1-gigabyte service. (Crawford n. p.) This will only be achieved through regulatory utility model that controls the rates.
Work Cited
Crawford, Susan. Why Our Internet Access Is Slow, Costly and Unfair, 2013

Susan Crawford on Why Our Internet Access Is Slow, Costly and Unfair