Comment Re:Wouldn't that result in DSL like problems (Score 1) 307
"You say that the regulations haven't stopped them from upgrading their network and training technicians in your area, then you go on to say how frustrated you are that you can't get DSL installed."
The problem is not the availability of lines, it's the pricing and the lack of willingness from Qwest to deploy DSL service to its customers. They obviously had the investment capital to introduce the service into the area but are now refusing to follow through with it by providing adequate support and installation and deployment of service. The exact numbers aren't handy, but this is a low income area and most families aren't going to be able to afford DSL as it is currently priced. It's obviously a case of trying to get reality to fit your fiscal plans, instead of vice/versa. If they would drop the premium price for line usage(generally around 39$US per month on top of regular phone service which costs 29$US)they would open up the market substantially to an influx of funds which would provide them with the money to invest in capital, whether human or actual materials such as training individuals to perform maintenance work or deployment of lines and then more lines, access and coverage. At least, that's one solution, but it keeps the power at a single place which means that it's probably not an ideal solution. The opportunity for monopolistic consumer abuse would continue to be viable, and I doubt there would be much hesitation to "stick it to you" in another way. It's not my fault, or any other consumer's fault, that Qwest and other companies thought that DSL was going to supply an immediate money tap, but with everything else you probably need to let the product mature and charge a fair price for it before you start seeing a large flow of funds.
"The phone network is going to remain a monopoly because there's no good way to split it up."
Agreed, however there still needs to be open discourse about the different ways in which someone could open up the market. The Bells and other companies which hold monopolies in metropolitan regions are never going to be happy with any sort of regulation. However, it's good to make sure we have consumer advocates speaking out for consumer interests like with the June 18th committee meeting regarding the reassessment of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. If you sit by with complacency, nothing is going to happen. More consumer rights advocates need to be contacted to let people know there is a problem that needs to be solved.
"Competition is going to come from other sources, such as cable, wireless, and satalite."
And there's something to stop these companies from gouging prices and doing exactly what Qwest, Ameritech, et al have been doing? This isn't a problem with single companies scattered over wide distances. This has to do with the way the business of providing useful and necessary tools to the public has been handled by business with the money to spare defending themselves in court from petty things like violating acts passed in congress and monopolizing large metropolitan areas and sticking fat bills to consumers who have done nothing wrong but attempt to purchase a service at a fair price.
Me: Maybe use it under some incarnation of the GPL?
You: Huh? Unless you have some actual way GPL might have some relation to DSL, quit throwing out buzzwords out of context.
Sorry, my failed attempt at some humor.. lol
Eric
The problem is not the availability of lines, it's the pricing and the lack of willingness from Qwest to deploy DSL service to its customers. They obviously had the investment capital to introduce the service into the area but are now refusing to follow through with it by providing adequate support and installation and deployment of service. The exact numbers aren't handy, but this is a low income area and most families aren't going to be able to afford DSL as it is currently priced. It's obviously a case of trying to get reality to fit your fiscal plans, instead of vice/versa. If they would drop the premium price for line usage(generally around 39$US per month on top of regular phone service which costs 29$US)they would open up the market substantially to an influx of funds which would provide them with the money to invest in capital, whether human or actual materials such as training individuals to perform maintenance work or deployment of lines and then more lines, access and coverage. At least, that's one solution, but it keeps the power at a single place which means that it's probably not an ideal solution. The opportunity for monopolistic consumer abuse would continue to be viable, and I doubt there would be much hesitation to "stick it to you" in another way. It's not my fault, or any other consumer's fault, that Qwest and other companies thought that DSL was going to supply an immediate money tap, but with everything else you probably need to let the product mature and charge a fair price for it before you start seeing a large flow of funds.
"The phone network is going to remain a monopoly because there's no good way to split it up."
Agreed, however there still needs to be open discourse about the different ways in which someone could open up the market. The Bells and other companies which hold monopolies in metropolitan regions are never going to be happy with any sort of regulation. However, it's good to make sure we have consumer advocates speaking out for consumer interests like with the June 18th committee meeting regarding the reassessment of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. If you sit by with complacency, nothing is going to happen. More consumer rights advocates need to be contacted to let people know there is a problem that needs to be solved.
"Competition is going to come from other sources, such as cable, wireless, and satalite."
And there's something to stop these companies from gouging prices and doing exactly what Qwest, Ameritech, et al have been doing? This isn't a problem with single companies scattered over wide distances. This has to do with the way the business of providing useful and necessary tools to the public has been handled by business with the money to spare defending themselves in court from petty things like violating acts passed in congress and monopolizing large metropolitan areas and sticking fat bills to consumers who have done nothing wrong but attempt to purchase a service at a fair price.
Me: Maybe use it under some incarnation of the GPL?
You: Huh? Unless you have some actual way GPL might have some relation to DSL, quit throwing out buzzwords out of context.
Sorry, my failed attempt at some humor.. lol
Eric
