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To: Milkman who wrote (8729)	1/2/1998 5:21:00 PM
From: SteveG	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 21342

<..I do not believe that public pressure will substantially speed up the process, just make the inevitable outcome (competition for the monopoly before the already open market) more sure...> I mainly agree. I do however think that as public attention is on more competitive markets, it becomes easier for Congress to allocate resources to thoroughly (re)address these issues (through a reworking of the Telecom Act, IF necessary). <..This is like the American Graffiti strip on friday night, we are all just flashing one another our opinions out the window as we go...> A hilarious (if cynical) perspective. In fact, the imagery is too richly funny to try to explain why I actually take longer, serious and appreciative looks at "moons" such as yours which I'm responding to here. I do think this metaphor is more applicable to the PAIR thread though, which I stopped regular reading LONG ago <NOE>. <...I do not agree with you. Regardlesss of the in depth details, price and marketing make xDSL a worthy competitor....> My bias comes from a combination of various things I have read and a fair amount of experience working with high frequency signal detection equipment. I think there will be more problems and inconsistencies with large scale ADSL service than is accounted for here (besides copper plant condition, infiltrative crosstalk is a significant concern). <..The US West offering is the best example of that. The $40 price point low end offering was directly because of cable and demand looks to be very strong...> I have no doubt that in certain markets there may be some competition. Let's see how the services compare over the next 6 months, and in different markets. <..The other thing cable has against it is the bigger capital equipment costs...> Not when the buildout is offset by revenues from broader cable offerings. And they are putting in NEW cable that will carry these signals until FTTC is ready to roll. Whereas the telcos have to run their investment costs over continually aging copper using techniques that are very susceptible to interference. Most people have periodic trouble getting rated thoughput running analog over the more stable (less susceptible to interference) voice band. SURE RADSL will adapt down, but who wants to pay up for service that adapts down to significantly lower than what cable for the same or less money offers? <..The bottom line is that consumers (individuals and business) will only pay so much for higher bandwidth products. The cable companies can be price4 competative but can they really make any money? I don't care if they do make money,I want my 192kbs internet access for $40/month. First one there gets my business...> But as per above, do they KEEP it under all conditions. Clearly the shared bandwidth of cable eventually requires a new T3 line (to split the load and double the bandwidth), but if I had to bet on cable or copper for dependable high bandwidth, I wouldn't hesitate to bet on coax. I did like the article you quoted and appreciate their arguments for incremental costs for ADSL. Except, I don't think it is really that incremental. It seems to me there is a major dollar and TECHNICAL committment when an RBOC decides to roll out ADSL. But I am open to these arguments. Thanks for your robust "flashes", Milkman. Regards- Steve