To: Frank A. Coluccio who wrote (941 ) 7/11/1998 2:11:00 AM From: wonk Respond to
Frank:But what I am saying is that perhaps the FUD factor in some subliminal way is behind the slow acceptance of the ideas which would foster greater acceptance of over-the-air interfaces. In other words, "preordained directions will prevail, in any event, so why bother?" is how I think many BOCsters feel. And who more than the BOCs could add impetus to the wireless regimen, in such a way that all others would be forced to follow? were preparing to raid both the broadcast video business and each others territories. The 96 Act totally changed everything. The Act forced them back into a group hug because the easier pickings are in LD, a true commodity business. Even if they lose every court case, they will be in LD in probably no more than two years. If SNET's performance in Connecticut is replicated across the board, it will be a bloody.Last Mile ) but last year Pepco and RCN announced a joint venture to do a residential fiber deployment in Washington, DC. They committed $300 million to do it. I do not remember if that was just the city proper or if it included the suburbs as well. Nevertheless, multiply that across the top 50 MSAs and you have quite a bill, especially compared to the yearly capital budget of any single regional LEC or IXC. Whatever happens in residential, it won't be the ideal of universal service exemplified in the seal on the floor in Basking Ridge. (While we are all fighting for our share of the market dollar, its nice to think that everyone has telecom service at a reasonable price. Though not and RBOC fan per se, in almost all of the arguments about being the provider of last resort, the LECs are dead on.)
