I never really understood why the feds raised the rates to begin with.
Because of inflation? - No, it never showed up.
Because of low unemployment? - No. Well, the feds felt 5% was almost impossible and then 4.5% was impossible. So far we have gone to 3.9% without inflation.
Because stock market made too many people money? - Maybe, but that's not very rational. The market has a way of killing its bad guys - look at AMZN - up and down before the fed got to 6%.
In the meantime high interest means lower euro, death to IPOs, trouble for foreign markets, squeeze for tight margin big businesses, tight capital for T, WCOM and no place to move if you really do have a crisis.
So why did they raise rates?
Because they can?
*******************************
Another topic:
What do you think of the agreement with Radio Shack?
Somebody needs to tell the troops. I went by a Radio Shack store on my way home and asked him about the cable kit. I explained it in great detail so there could be no misunderstanding.
I counted 20 seconds that the counter guy started at me with totally balnk eyes.
Finally he says "DSL - that's what you really mean - DSL! It's much better than cable.".
I guess they will hear about it later. November is the roll-out.
biz.yahoo.com
Thursday October 19, 7:25 am Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: Excite@Home; RadioShack Corporation
Excite@Home and RadioShack Announce Strategic Alliance To Accelerate Adoption of Cable Broadband Service
Leader in Broadband Teams Up with Nation's Largest Consumer Electronics Retailer
Excite@Home Cable Partners AT&T, Comcast and Cox to Participate in Alliance
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., and FORT WORTH, Texas, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Excite@Home (Nasdaq: ATHM - news), the leader in broadband, and RadioShack Corporation (NYSE: RSH - news), America's largest consumer electronics retailer, today announced a strategic alliance designed to acquire new subscribers and accelerate the adoption of cable broadband Internet service among mass-market consumers.
Consumers within the Excite@Home broadband footprint will be able to visit participating RadioShack stores and purchase a QuickStart installation kit and cable modem. Once connected and activated, consumers will immediately experience the high-speed and rich content of broadband Internet service.
This alliance will create a new channel for Excite@Home, its cable partners and RadioShack to bring the broadband Internet experience to consumers. It gives consumers a convenient and fast way to obtain broadband Internet service with a seamless installation process easily implemented by even the most inexperienced Internet users.
In addition, the nationwide program will underscore Excite@Home's goal of obtaining distribution throughout multiple sales channels and will add yet another component to RadioShack's home connectivity strategy.
``RadioShack is all about connecting people, places and things, especially everything Internet related,'' stated Leonard Roberts, chairman, president and CEO of RadioShack Corporation. ``Our business strategy is to become America's Home Connectivity Store, and our agreement with Excite@Home will be an integral part of this strategy by virtue of the company's expansive broadband footprint. By offering multiple broadband transport choices, including cable, RadioShack puts high-speed Internet service within easy reach of millions of American consumers.''
The @Home service offers high-speed Internet access through an ``always on'' connection. Features of the service also include a custom software package, easy-to-use features and personalized Excite broadband content from one of the world's leading portals, Excite. The service is delivered over cable lines with no interruption to television viewing during simultaneous use.
``Streamlining the installation process is the critical component for driving cable broadband adoption into more homes,'' said George Bell, chairman and CEO of Excite@Home. ``The ability for consumers to quickly and easily obtain broadband Internet service at their own convenience will dramatically increase the number of consumers who can sign up daily to obtain a high-speed Internet connection.
RadioShack's leadership position in the consumer electronics space coupled with their close proximity to the consumer makes them a significant element in Excite@Home's customer acquisition strategy.''
Participating in this agreement are Excite@Home's cable partners including Comcast, AT&T Broadband and Cox. Comcast will be the first cable operator to launch with RadioShack and to offer the QuickStart installation kit in the fourth quarter of 2000, which will be available in Comcast markets including Philadelphia, Baltimore, the Washington, DC metro area, and New Jersey.
``The agreement with RadioShack and the number of retail outlets it offers supports Comcast's commitment to bringing our customers the exciting new products and services they want,'' said David Juliano, senior vice president and general manager of Comcast Online Communications. ``With the added convenience of being able to walk into the local RadioShack store, the customer's interest in obtaining Comcast@Home broadband Internet service will be immediately fulfilled.''
``We believe wide retail availability of our products and services will be increasingly important,'' said Doug Seserman, senior vice president of Marketing and Sales for AT&T Broadband. ``We continue to work with Excite@Home so we can provide this capability to our customers in the coming months.''
Excite@Home's QuickStart installation kits will be available in participating RadioShack stores and feature an advanced installation ``wizard'' CD-ROM that is tailored toward novice ``mainstream'' users.
The kit's software offers a redesigned, intelligent installation program designed to help customers avoid common installation pitfalls. RadioShack sales associates will first conduct a check to determine that customers reside in a serviceable @Home area. Once at home, customers will activate their modem and account by phone and run the Startup CD which will walk them through a consumer-friendly installation .
``We are constantly looking for ways to enhance the accessibility and ease of use of all of our products. This partnership offers another convenient way for customers to connect to our Cox@Home service,'' said Beth Denning, Cox Communications' Director of Sales. ``We are excited about teaming with RadioShack to bring Cox@Home into its many neighborhood retail locations.''
About Excite@Home
Excite@Home (Nasdaq: ATHM - news) is the leading broadband online service provider, offering residential and commercial broadband services, with a global footprint of 105 (1) million homes under long-term cable and DSL contract. Excite@Home offers consumers broadband services over cable-modem, DSL and other last-mile connections and businesses high-speed commercial services. Excite@Home has over 30 million* cable franchise homes under contract outside of North America and localized versions of the Excite service in 10 leading international markets.
· (*) Effective upon the closing of Excite Chello.
About RadioShack
RadioShack Corporation is the nation's largest and most trusted consumer electronics retailer and offers both on-and off-line shopping convenience. With more than 7,100 stores and dealers, RadioShack sells more wireless telephones, telecommunications products and electronics parts and accessories than any other retailer. It is estimated that 94 percent of Americans live or work within five minutes of a RadioShack store or dealer. For more information visit the RadioShack website at www.RadioShack.com.
Statements made in this press release which are forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties and are indicated by words such as ``anticipate,'' ``expect,'' ``could,'' ``plans,'' ``goals'' and other similar words or phrases. These uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic conditions, product demand, competitive products and pricing, availability of products, the regulatory environment, and other risks indicated in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission such as RadioShack's most recent Form 10-K and 10-Q.
@Home, Excite@Home, @Work, Excite, and are the trademarks of At Home Corporation, and may be registered in certain jurisdictions.
SOURCE: Excite@Home; RadioShack Corporation |
