[NTLUG:Discuss] OT: Fried

[Wayne Dahl]

On Mon, 2004-02-09 at 17:42, Alvin Goats wrote:

> The liberal closing of the Superconducting Supercollider in favor of
> social programs stymied innovation, leaving that type of innovation to
> the Swiss (Cern). The Senate's failure to pass the telecom bill a couple
> of years ago (remember the one that would have completed "the last
> mile", killed just to "get Bush"?), that one put the US behind several
> countries. We aren't number one anymore. And I have to settle for 28.8
> kbps with a 56k modem indefinitely, thank you very much. Oh, and I might
> mention, had the Senate passed the bill (it was lobbied FOR by the
> president and PASSED by the House), it would have envigorated the
> telecom industry, kept people employed, hired more workers. Do some
> research on this.  Social programs don't innovate, never have. 

This is another gripe I have about current legislation.  As an Incumbent
Local Exchange Carrier (phone company), Verizon is forced to allow other
companies access to our existing facilities at lower rates than we
charge our other customers, just so we can have "competition".  In other
words, Verizon is forced to give use of the facilities we've spent the
money to develop to other companies who have no interest in developing
anything but a cashflow.  Literally ANYONE could set up a company, call
it a phone company and approach Verizon or Southwestern Bell and tell
them they want to "lease" lines from them and they will get them at
below market rates, just so those companies can "compete".

In truth, most of those companies fold or are sold to someone else.  But
the real danger is in the area of innovation.  Verizon is about to start
a trial of FTTP (Fiber To The Premises) of a million lines, starting in
Keller.  FTTP would be great...the advantages of what could be offered
are staggering.  The video phones we've all been promised since the 60's
would actually become a viable reality (due to bookoo bandwidth with
which to play), etc.  BUT, here comes the worm in the proverbial apple. 
While Verizon is going to go ahead with this pilot program, they're only
going to convert a million lines this year...out of 56 million.  And
they will not even consider going ahead with the rest of the network if
they are going to be forced to spend the money doing all the R&D and
work of installing the fiber and working out all the bugs, if they're
only going to then be forced by our government to then allow Joe Blow's
telephone/cabletv/internet Co access to those networks.  SBC has said
the same.  

All the cool stuff we could already have has been delayed because of our
"friends" in Washington.  You've gotta wonder how many OTHER things
we've missed out on because of these very policies.  It has to be
stopped.  Companies like Verizon and SBC ARE fighting the
legislation...but they need help from others.  While I really have no
great love for SBC or Verizon, I can see their point.  To just say
they're greedy is missing the point for the greater picture.

My 2 cents,

Wayne