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To: FR1 who wrote (2938)	10/24/1998 12:27:00 PM
From: Don Dodge	Respond to of 29970

My cable modem was installed last week. It is a Motorola CyberSufer. I get service through TCI/@Home and it has worked flawlessly for the past week. I also have an ISDN line that I have been using for more than a year, and of course a 56K modem that came with my computer. Cable is faster on graphic intensive sites and when you want to download files. With things like E-mail and browsing text based web sites there isn't a huge difference. My cable modem is bi-directional; it does NOT use a phone line for the return link. The service is $39 per month and a one time install fee of $100. Included in the install price was a 3Com NIC, a Motorola CyberSurfer cable modem, installing a new cable jack in my den / office, and setting up the software on my PC. An excellent deal! ISDN service is very expensive for me because there is a monthly charge, and usage is charged at $.06 per minute, actually $.12/min when I am using both channels. I dial into servers that are long distance calls, not local calls, so that adds a LOT of cost. I believe ADSL is even more expensive. At this point I would rate cable modem service better, faster, and cheaper than ISDN and ADSL. My theory is that the cable guys will win the home market, and the telco guys will win the corporate market. Cable is fast and relatively cheap, though it may in some cases be less dependable, things that home consumers can live with. Cable does not currently service businesses and would need to lay cable and wire the insides of buildings to provide service. The telcos already have the infrastructure to service the corporate market, and they have a long history of delivering excellent quality of service. The telcos can also use their other services as bargaining chips in price negotiations. The cable guys don't have any other services to discount. I see the telcos winning the corporate market hands down. AT&T joining with TCI puts a different wrinkle in this picture. AT&T wants to get into the local access market and may use TCI to go around the RBOCS and CLECS to do it. There are significant technology and business practice hurdles to doing this, but the stakes are very high for AT&T. This should be very interesting to watch. Don

To: FR1 who wrote (2938)	10/24/1998 2:06:00 PM
From: ahhaha	Respond to of 29970

You have to remember that TCI is still a somewhat independent company even after merger. T just would own the stock. GE owns NBC, but they certainly don't get involved very much. They provide sponsorship. Although TCI's balance sheet would be subsumed under ATT's, and that affords borrowing power, it is still TCI that must make the expenditure for roll-out. How and where is entirely up to TCI. TCI also can use funds to pursue the extra 200 channels. If they tried this now, T would pull the plug or at least apply suasion. If I read my Armstrongs correctly, more like arm twisting. So TCI must proceed with the SF-Bay Area build-out as quickly as possible without regard to questionable publicity from merger branding. The public doesn't see ATT in a favorable light anyway. They believe they are just another profiteering evil corporation. Fortunately, enough of the Luddites have died since the days of Ma Bell, and CBS hasn't figured out yet that ATT will be getting quite a bit richer and therefore worthy of sensational yellow dog journalism, so their public image is unclear. Therefore, the hardware just isn't ready. Or new technology from Broadcom or several other exciting developments, is putting the hold on continuation. DELL's modem in the box is a kind of potential delay. CSCO and others switch developments could put a hold on things. I just want to see trucks stringing wire everywhere. Even that is up in the air because better quality fiber is appearing weekly. No. There's no excuse. TCI is procrastinating for the digital tv. You're right and it is my biggest irritation.