Re: Where is US West's Head At? FCC 99-238 Ring a Bell<g>?
Thread- Appears US West's Mark Roellig may be pulling a Steve Case. Or better yet, a Joe Nacchio. Putting his foot in his mouth. Be careful for what you ask for because you may get it, etc.
Apparently he hasn't been keeping up with FCC 99-238. If US West decides to spend billions of dollars on rolling voice over ATM out to RT's then FCC ruling 99-238, as it stands, should protect their investment. Then maybe US West can generate added revenues if they are willing to risk the capital it takes to build the ADSL/VDSL network AND keep data-CLEC from taking a risk-free ride.
But 99-238 won't protect them if US West can't keep Roellig quiet. Sarcastic comments targeted at AT&T's $102 billion risk in upgrading their cable plants to HFC, is not very smart. Sounds very similar to Steve Case, pre-Time Warner to me.<g> -MikeM(From Florida)
PS Here's my latest post regarding FCC 99-238:
Message 13244782
Here's full details of FCC 99-238:
Message 13206558
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Consumers Will Lose Out on Full Benefits of High-Speed Internet Access Until Cable Providers Offer True Choice in ISPs
LOS ANGELES, Mar 24, 2000- The failure of the cable monopoly to open its network to competing Internet access providers is one of the most significant obstacles to continued growth of the Internet, said Mark Roellig, executive vice president for Law, Human Resources and Public Policy, U S WEST.
Roellig addressed a legal forum on "open access" issues here last night, saying AT&T's continued refusal to offer customers a choice in Internet providers is stunting the Internet's growth and potential to continue transforming consumers' lives.
"Over the last few years, the Internet has changed the way we live, work and play. As we move into the future, high-speed Internet access has the potential to enrich our lives even further. But without real choices in Internet providers and content, consumers will be denied the full benefits of the information age," Roellig said. "Unless meaningful 'open access' policies are enacted at the national and local levels, millions of Americans will continue to lose out on the benefits of open competition among Internet providers -- better products and lower prices.
"Equally alarming, we all know that some ISPs restrict certain content from their sites. Without competition among Internet providers, consumers may also be denied full access to all content on the Internet," he said.
"If AT&T continues to get its way, consumers will only receive what AT&T wants them to receive. To get a choice in Internet service providers, they'll be forced to pay for it twice. First, they would have to purchase AT&T's ISP service, then they could pay for an additional service. This isn't really choice," Roellig said.
The cable industry's refusal to provide open access stands in stark contrast to the policies of U S WEST and other telecom companies that offer a choice in Internet service providers through both dial-up connections and high-speed DSL service.
"AT&T originally said it was technologically impossible to give consumers a choice of Internet service providers on its cable network," Roellig said. "After intense public pressure, they did an about face and announced they could open their system in two or three years. It's great that they finally understand how their own system works. But two to three years from now, hundreds if not thousands of 'mom and pop' Internet providers will have gone out of business because AT&T is stifling competition. In the Internet world, two to three years is a lifetime." |
