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North American Network Operators Group Date Prev | Date Next | Date Index | Thread Index | Author Index | Historical Re: HR 1542 [OT, anti-BS attempt, US]
On Mon, 7 May 2001, Fletcher E Kittredge wrote: > BTW, if you spend much time with regulators and lawyers, you will be > aware that there is a major difference between the cable network and > the PSTN. After the mid-1930's, the PSTN was built by a company which > was guaranteed a specific, profitable rate of return. The cable > network was built by many small entrepreneurs who were not guaranteed > a profit nor even solvency. For that reason, the PSTN is more > arguably a public resource. Except that most of today's cable systems were built while municipalities could, and did, grant exclusive franchises. Overbuilding an incumbant cable operator is as expensive and risky as becoming a CLEC - probably the reason that neither CLECs nor cable overbuilders are showing much commercial success. As to "small entrepreneurs" - that may have once been true, but I wouldn't call AT&T/MediaOne/TCI, AOL/Time Warner, Adelphia, or Charter "small entrepreneurs." These guys engage in monopoly tactics that rank right up there with those of the ILECs. Miles ************************************************************************** The Center for Civic Networking PO Box 600618 Miles R. Fidelman, President & Newtonville, MA 02460-0006 Director, Municipal Telecommunications Strategies Program 617-558-3698 fax: 617-630-8946 [email protected] http://civic.net/ccn.html Information Infrastructure: Public Spaces for the 21st Century Let's Start With: Internet Wall-Plugs Everywhere Say It Often, Say It Loud: "I Want My Internet!" **************************************************************************
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