From: Brian D Williams (talon57@well.com)
Date: Wed Jul 31 2002 - 07:56:08 MDT
>From: Samantha Atkins <samantha@objectent.com>
>Ah, you lost me there. I am not in the least impressed with the
>result of supposed competition in telecommunications in the US.
> Not when I pay through the nose for partial wireless mobile
>(where I can find any at all) as compared to what is available
>in parts of Europe and in Japan. Not when I can barely
>dependably get a sDSL a couple of miles from the telco switchbox
>without involving no less than three separate companies with
>differing agendas, most of which I cannot talk to when I have a
>problem. Competition? It has largely disappeared into merger
>zaniness and endles bureaucracy in this industry. Benefits of
>competition? BAH. Humbug!
Samantha is correct, what we have in this country in most
telecommunications markets is the illusion of competition.
This can be traced directly to the 1996 Telecom act.
Under provisions of this act the RBOC's are required to sell
network elements to others, at 30% below COST. All these companies
do is put a sticker on SBC/Ameritech provided service, claiming it
as their own, and putting the profits in the hands of a few
individuals. There is no sunset clause in the act, and these people
have no intention of ever building their own networks.
Why would they?
I refer to them as PLECs for "Parasitic Local Exchange Carriers".
1) they take vital nutrient (profit) without giving anything in
return.
2) The host would be healthier without them.
3) If the host dies they must find another host or perish.
The biological definition of a parasite...
As a result of this act (1996 Telecom act) the RBOCs canceled plans
to deploy fiber and until the regulations change have NO plans to
deploy it in the last mile. We originally had plans to finish fiber
deployment by the year 2000.
Contrast this with cable and wireless networks where the providers
are not required to share their networks.
If the law changes we will start deploying new solutions the day
after.
Brian
Member:
Extropy Institute, www.extropy.org
National Rifle Association, www.nra.org, 1.800.672.3888
SBC/Ameritech Data Center Chicago, IL, Local 134 I.B.E.W
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