As soon as they started using computers to send MLS data, (probably about 1985, in my market) I began to think about the notion of  how much better it would be if there were one MLS covering my state, as opposed to having to belong to a number of different MLS's, pay different (and seemingly redundant) fees to these organizations, and deal with the different paperwork, rules and regs, etc. For whatever reasons, the MLS's always seemed opposed to the concept, as best as I can tell. About 10 or so years ago, a group of 5 large brokers in NJ got together and created one MLS to encompass much of their collective markets. The local MLS's fought it tooth and nail, defending their 'independence' and asserting their 'regional authority". It was a little sticky for a while, you had several MLS's at that point that werre overlapping this main MLS that the large regional players had shifted their listings to, and we started paying, at least at the beginning of the process, more overlapping fees.

Eventually, though, many of the local MLS's had to give in and merge into the one larger MLS, since after the big houses moved their inventory there wasn't enough inventory (or fees) to sustain these local MLS's. And you know what? after they acquiesced, the MLS areas were larger, the fees went down, the fees for submitting listings were cut basically in half, the MLS's overall were better run, and the change (which didn't come easy) worked!

Given that, and I am sure there are other scenarios, wouldn't it be nice if at least each state, perhaps, or national sector, or even one national data base, could service the needs of its real estate community with that same result, namely more information to more Realtors leading to better client service, less fees and easier processing of MLS activities?