Convergence Conversation

For reasons that seem everything to do with controlling the rate of deployment, to the benefit of existing large players, the telcos (most vociferously and, appropriately enough, Talk Talk) are claiming that any whiff of state aid to the roll out of broadband networks will "chill" private investment.  Given that the investment spectrum is pretty wide, covering the space between the cherry orchard and the revenue desert, why is it OK for the private sector to invest in the orchard, but not OK for public money to be used for oases in the desert?  More...