Thanks for the response, WTC.
Re: Competition From Cablecos
Yes, that day is here indeed. This is the new paradigm that the telcos fear most. I enjoyed as well as struggled through Frank's lengthy post regarding his vision of multi-accessible infrastructure for competing providers.
I find it interesting on the local front how the local municipality has control (& therefore leverage) over the roll out of upgraded technology when it comes to cable, but little if no control when it comes to DSL & the ILECs. In my region, it appears that the cable franchisee is prohibited from rolling out its upgrade (Internet access) until the upgrade is built out to deliver the upgrade to all subscribers w/i the municipality's jurisdiction. Not so with the ILECs & DSL.
Sure, I understand how each falls w/i the purview of a different regulatory environment. However, IMHO, if the ILECs did in-fact functioned in the same environment as cables, I think I/we would see the investment in the necessary fiber-optic to the "last 30%" of ILEC customers. If the cables are forced to invest to deliver homogenous access throughout a political subdivision, then so must the telcos at some point. National policy does support this. Local policy should support it as well.
Wireless Competition
I cannot comment on the ability of wireless to deliver interactive data via satellites. This issue has been the subject of previous posts. My point was concerning competition, not necessarily on the "data" front, but rather w/respect to voice communication. If the ILECs can't deliver an acceptable data solution to the subscriber, that particular alternative apparently will be provided by the cableco at some point. The next issue for the consumer to consider is -- who do I choose for telephonic communication?
Will the ILEC always win out over the competitive cellular phone service provider? I think not in the months, years going forward. The cost of cellular communication had dropped dramatically. Competition is fierce. Pricing is competitive. In our modern mobile society the demand/need for a strictly land-based telephonic connection is diminished. This is what I meant by competition from the wireless cos.
As I previously stated, IMHO the non-responsive ILECs will feel pressure on 2 fronts. IMHO, the underpinning to subscriber growth in the future will data services, not telephony. Without a "data-connection" the ILEC telephonic foundation is weakened, & thus vulnerable to competition from wireless cos. |
