lml,
I agree with some of what you said. I didn't put those comments down because this discussion would get boring<G>. But here is what I disagree with you on.
"Redundancy in the plant, particularly in residential areas, is not something I think the FCC necessarily wants to encourage, or is the appropriate business model for competing access providers to pursue."
But this is exactly what should be pursued. If this wasn't the case, we would all be driving the exact same car. But the fact is, there are many automobile makers (probably used to be hundreds), selling US consumers, "CARS." IMHO, this is what makes America great (and why cars are pretty fantastic vehicles considering their relatively low price).
"I believe that once the nation's cable plant is substantially upgraded & the MSOs have established a proven cash flow from their investment, FCC policy will shift from one of exclusive access to one of more open access."
Well I would hate to be in AT&T(Mike Armstrong's really) shoes investing $70 billion in the cable plant, then probably some $2 billion per year for 10 years, to have this hanging over my neck. He's staking his entire companies future on creating a new landscape. I don't think it's fair to put AT&T under the burden you purpose and expect them to, "Hurry up and get it built," as the FCC's Kennard has clearly told them in no uncertain terms.
"Taken to an extreme, open access does not necessarily mean "30,000 providers" sharing the same pipe."
Not taking into account the technical merits of what you say, but 30,000 providers is exactly what is needed. How many software companies do you think started out 15 or 20 years ago, all creating and competeing for the same marketplace. TREMENDOUS redundancy in that field. There still is. I think it's been totally revolutionary what has happened to the world as a result of these 30,000 competitors (probably closer to hundreds of thousands worldwide). Albeit, one dominates now, but if we didn't start out with 30,000 I bet the innovation wouldn't have happened nearly as quickly.
Thanks,
MikeM(From Florida)
PS I appreciate the very civilized disagreements. Makes me learn.
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