It was March of 2021. President Joe Biden had just taken office, declaring his intent to “bring affordable, reliable, high-speed broadband to every American.” And instead of relying on Big Telecom, as much money as possible would go toward public networks. Biden promised to prioritize support for networks “owned, operated by, or affiliated with local governments, non-profits, and co-operatives.” He even suggested he’d clear the way legally for new municipal networks to exist by “lifting barriers that prevent municipally-owned or affiliated providers and rural electric co-ops from competing on an even playing field with private providers.”

I’m surprised Biden even said this part out loud. Whether it was just a politician’s promise or not, it means that, at least in speeches, the more dominant neo-liberal core of the Democratic Party is beginning to pay lip service to the progressive wing, which is something they didn’t really bother doing in the past. I think that’s a good sign.

I wonder how much of the watered-down law that ended up being less progressive was because Republicans, who always favor corporations over people, pushed for those changes.