re: "...although I'd hardly trivialize its [QoS] implementation on a network..."
I'm not following you.
re: "short of providing actual program content."
The line between content, applications, and services gets awfully blurred at times. That's part of the problem with such discussions.
re: "After making the assumption that they also provide mail..."
I wasn't making that assumption. I'm tending to doubt lack of mail servers is a deal breaker for businesses, especially larger businesses. Since you must be seeing otherwise, can you elaborate on the trends you are seeing here, w/r/t business size.
re: "wouldn't you then say that providing security, accounting, access control, ...were also adjunct functions to providing bit- (okay, maybe byte-) pipe functions?"
Yes, adjunct as in mandatory components of having a viable business model? Security is a bit fuzzy since it's such a broad term but certainly I'd agree that some aspect of security is part of their business model, even if strictly for securing their own assets. There are liability issues and ranges of cost and complexity with certain aspects of security so I think it depends. Accounting...sure. Access control...sure. Can't run a for-fee network without them. So I think we're in agreement that a bit pipe carries with it other obligations. But that's not to say there couldn't be layers of all of the above, controlled by a third party content, application, or service provider that uses the bit pipe as a thoroughfare, or even completely outsourced to a separate provider.
content caching and distribution I agree are a stretch, not inextricably linked to operating a bit pipe. Probably a tighter link to a residential bit pipe operator, but I guess it depends whether you mean public or private content assets. I'd add applications hosting to that same list. Probably best left to 3rd party specialist firms, but not to say they couldn't undertake it. That's a lot to bite off for a start-up venture though.
re:"What would [you] have them provide or perform for the customer and have them still be considered a LEC?"
I don't even want to tackle that one. The regulatory outcomes and legal challenges over the coming years will define that for us (let's hope). |
