I don't think anything will be free. You can run your voice over IP with broadband. That means the more endpoints you have, the more value you have in the network. For example, I can have two subscribers talking VoIP on our network without going off net, so we can reduce access charges. In essence, you now have an infrastructure with cable that not only can deliver high value services, but also reduces your access expense.
Access is where the battle is.
The battle will be won at the edges of the network, not the core. Because it's on the access network where you have the highest level of cost, the least amount of bandwidth available, and the least ability to differentiate yourself. We control our access architecture and the facilities, so we control our own cost structure. Now we can differentiate. It becomes the law of gravity.