Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : LAST MILE TECHNOLOGIES - Let's Discuss Them Here -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Frank A. Coluccio who wrote (4551)	7/9/1999 2:03:00 PM
From: JMD	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 12823

Frank, that's a very important post--so important that I want to be sure I understand precisely what you're saying. On the one hand, you seem to be advocating a technological market free for all: rip open the protected cable monopoly HFC last mile to the home and may the best widget win, with benefits for consumers forever and ever amen. O.K., I'm with you. OTOH, you also seem to be wary of 'disparate islands of connectivity' and again, 'continue to flounder in the discontinuities' implying that the lack of a standard will actually INHIBIT technological progress. Microsoft is of course the company everyone loves to hate--but don't we all have to give them credit for imposing standards? At what point do we cross over the cost/benefit line wherein standards retard more progress than might otherwise be brought about by 'disruptive' innovations that cannot break through the standards' barriers? Let me hasten to add that I don't know the answers, and that if forced up against the wall, I would reflexively vote for competition vs. monopoly all day every day--so you bet I want all the ISP's to have a crack at Ma's cable hoses--but I can't quite tell from your remarks where you come out. Would you mind clarifying? Kind regards, mike doyle

To: Frank A. Coluccio who wrote (4551)	7/9/1999 9:41:00 PM
From: Kenneth E. De Paul	Respond to of 12823

Its over for the cable monopolies too! The telcos will be opened enough such that their network will have all sorts of application drivers that no monopoly will ever be able to compete with, satellite and cellular will definitely offer competing technologies where cable might have a stranglehold. This closed monopoly fight will backfire right in the cable companies faces. The FCC is really doing them quite a disservice, in my opinion.