Tim Wu’s The Master Switch lays out this narrative: every major communication technology—from telephony to radio to the internet—goes through a cycle from open and competitive to closed and tightly controlled. Initially, these systems are free-for-alls full of innovation, but over time, powerful actors emerge to consolidate and govern the network’s future. Wu calls this eventual point of control the “master switch.” We’ve seen this dynamic unfold many times in history. AT&T for example benefi...

Tim Wu’s The Master Switch lays out this narrative: every major communication technology—from telephony to radio to the internet—goes through a cycle from open and competitive to closed and tightly controlled. Initially, these systems are free-for-alls full of innovation, but over time, powerful actors emerge to consolidate and govern the network’s future. Wu calls this eventual point of control the “master switch.” We’ve seen this dynamic unfold many times in history. AT&T for example benefi...