Nilay Patel, founder of tech news site the Verge, offers a nine minute interview with Susan Crawford on how we can improve access to the Internet in the US. Crawford is increasingly focusing on local action, which we have encouraged for years:
Nilay Patel: In this context, to say that you’re hopeful about the government doing anything seems extremely foolish. And, you know, I’m an advocate of net neutrality. I enjoyed the book thoroughly. But I have no hope that our government will accomplish any of these goals.
Susan Crawford: Well, there’s government, and there’s government. I’m totally focused on mayors these days. I’ve given up on federal policy for the time being.
Patel: But why are you focused on mayors?
Crawford: Because mayors are sovereigns. Mayors can act. They have control over their rights of way. They can say, “We need fiber in our area.”