IP: fretting over broadband...

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2001 12:44:22 -0500 (EST)
> From: "Mike O'Dell" <mo () ccr org>
> To: dave () farber net
> Subject: fretting over broadband...
>
> Dave,
>
> i've held off until now, but that was the last straw.
>
> if people really wanna worry about broadband, ask
> why the ILEC's consistent and persistent slow-roll approach
> to the implementation of the requirements of the '96 act
> was allowed to go unchallenged by the government.
>
> the ILECs simply ignored the '96 act - that's why you could
> regularly see 2-3 week difference in provisioning intervals
> for a dsl line to the same physical address in orders placed
> through an ILEC and a CLEC.  the ILECS would quote quick and
> "soon", where they wouldn't even get back to the CLEC with a
> date for a week, and then it would be another 2-3 weeks. the
> CLEC got slow-rolled to death, pure and simple. the ILECs
> didn't want to do what was required in the '96 bill and they
> didn't do it, betting that nobody would make them.  and they
> were absolutely right.
>
> the solution I favor is to force the ILECs to be split in half,
> forming two companies, one to own the dial-tone making stuff,
> and one company to owns the last mile plant and is required
> (ie, forced) to sell wholesale off the same price sheet to
> everyone, including their new sibling which can provide
> dial-tone on that copper loop if you want it.
>
> yes, there will still be a monopoly on the physical copper
> last mile because this is a case where there is a natural
> monopoly (and because they enjoy this monopoly, they get rules
> of engagement). HOWEVER, the service operators which use
> that infrastructure most definitely do not deserve monopoly
> status.  another requirement on the loop company sould be to
> require a minimum amount of annual capex to improve the network
> based on a percent of revenue.
>
> of course the ILECs will scream like stuck pigs, but doing
> this split could double, if not triple the market cap of the
> current ILECs. the stockholders should be very happy with the
> idea. and we all will finally get decent last mile technology
> deployed.
>
> "Divert all power to the shields!"
>
>         -mo

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