Captive Audience

Susan P. Crawford's "Captive Audience" examines the state of high-speed internet access in the United States and its control by major telecommunications companies. The book details how four corporations - Comcast, Verizon, AT&T, and Time Warner Cable - have established a near-monopoly over American internet service. Crawford analyzes the consequences of this consolidated market control, including higher prices and slower speeds compared to other developed nations. The text outlines specific examples of alternative approaches, such as successful municipal broadband networks in cities like Lafayette, Louisiana and Chattanooga, Tennessee. The book presents a case for treating internet access as an essential utility, similar to electricity, and advocates for policy changes to increase market competition. Through research and industry analysis, Crawford demonstrates the broader economic and social implications of America's current telecommunications landscape. This investigation of corporate power and public policy raises fundamental questions about access to essential services in modern America. The work connects to larger themes of monopoly control, regulatory oversight, and digital equality in contemporary society.

Readers view this as a detailed examination of telecommunications monopolies and their impact on American consumers. The book resonates with people frustrated by limited internet provider choices and high prices. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanations of complex regulatory history - Data-driven analysis of market concentration - Concrete policy recommendations - Compelling case studies showing real consumer impact Common criticisms: - Too one-sided in its arguments - Repetitive points throughout chapters - Technical jargon makes some sections hard to follow - Dated examples (published 2013) Review Scores: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (239 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (54 ratings) Sample reader comment: "Crawford presents the evidence clearly but could have acknowledged counter-arguments more thoroughly" - Goodreads reviewer Another notes: "Important topic but gets bogged down in technical details that may lose general readers" - Amazon reviewer

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📌 Susan P. Crawford served as President Obama's Special Assistant for Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy and is a professor at Harvard Law School. 🌐 The city of Chattanooga, featured in the book, became known as "Gig City" after becoming the first U.S. city to offer 1 gigabit-per-second fiber internet service to all residents. 💻 As of the book's publication, Americans were paying significantly more for internet service than citizens in cities like Seoul, Hong Kong, and Stockholm, while receiving slower speeds. 🏛️ The book traces how the 1996 Telecommunications Act, intended to promote competition, paradoxically led to increased consolidation in the telecommunications industry. 🌆 Lafayette, Louisiana's municipal fiber network, discussed extensively in the book, saved its residents more than $5.7 million in its first year of operation compared to private sector alternatives.