Denis,
Re: Opening up to outside ISPs, the article states,
"AT&T, however, does not. It owns a big chunk of the nation's cable systems, as well as 40 percent of Excite@Home and it wants cable companies--such as the ones it owns--to be able to control access to customers."
I'm inclined to think otherwise. Sure, T wants control, but their appetitite IMO goes beyond the potential of ATHM. See my post on the ATHM thread at:
Message 10497961
At some point, if T does open up, the arguments may reverse themselves, since T could then be viewed as the sole [or, at least dominant] wholesale provider in many regions, thus portending an even greater threat to the competitive alternatives offered by the DSLs and Wirelesses. It would be a peculiar twist in the makeup of the established arguments, don't you agree?
I'm quite certain that this option has been on their white boards and brown wrapping papers that adorn the walls of their think rooms, waiting for an opportunity to blossom. Like most other initiatives that make sense, it will blossom in full color when the time is right. I'm inclined to think that their posturing, i.e. the way they are presenting the agenda of the SLC trials, is all about this.
Just think about how nifty T's position will be then. When they are finally faced with obligation to admit others, they can turn around and say that they were forced to. Hmmm...
Comments welcome.
Regards, Frank Coluccio |
