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

To: RTev who wrote (3254)	3/30/1999 3:36:00 PM
From: Teflon	Respond to of 12823

I like this thread, think I might have to join in the fun... Mr. Coluccio never told me about this little get together over here! Teflon

To: RTev who wrote (3254)	3/30/1999 3:44:00 PM
From: Teflon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 12823

Thanks for posting the Question here, RTev. For the record, he is asking on behalf of myself and a bunch of other information starved maniacs. We all appreciate any insight this Board can provide on RTev's remarks. Teflon

To: RTev who wrote (3254)	3/30/1999 8:51:00 PM
From: ftth	Respond to of 12823

Hello RTev, can't be sure exactly, because, like you said, details were sketchy. My best guess would be this is through their alliance (and equity investment in) Rhythms Netconnections Inc. Rhythms is a data-centric CLEC which provides various flavors of DSL in (currently) only a handful of large cities. They offer access at speeds ranging from 128 kbps to 7.1 Mbps and resell their service thru ISP's. Rhythms is in registration (filed S-1 2/16/98) and is slated for initial offering next week. Their ticker is supposed to be RTHM. See:http://www.ipocentral.com/ml_ipo/59205ml.html You may wish to check out Northpoint, which is also in registration: ipocentral.com dh

To: RTev who wrote (3254)	3/30/1999 9:58:00 PM
From: Frank A. Coluccio	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 12823

>>Is it possible for a provider to get access to the ILEC's network at a different point, so that they would be able to offer DSL using different end-user equipment or does the ILEC's choice of equipment in the CO determine what other providers can offer?<< Independents (CLECs/DLECs, ISPs, ICPs, etc.) can do the same thing that the ILECs do through the now-common practice of colocation. They needn't search fo "access to the ILEC's network at a different point,"in other words, although they may have to find their own rack in the central office, instead of using one that also houses the ILEC's equipment. Any number of providers may mount their own hardware devices (DSLAMs and concentrators) in the central office, just as the ILECs do, in colocation "cages." [Note I'm told that the cagery issue in some ILECs may be coming to a close in some situation, or at least this is what the CLECs are striving for through regulatory relief efforts.] >>Some background that might clarify the question: USWest in Seattle now offers DSL service through their own ISP or through a number of competitive ISPs.<< To a very large degree it's no longer meaningful to designate CLECs and ISPs as discrete entities by type. They are all doing it all, to the point that when the ISPs finally get platforms that can sustain quality voice over IP (and many of them also are CLECs doing switched voice right now, I might add), and when the CLECs begin to shed some of their switched stuff for IP, they will be indistinguishable. The ISPs you're referring to may actually be bona fide ISPs, or they may be Integrators, or VARs, or resellers, anything that will bring in the bucks. In the case of the Integrators and VAR, especially, they are free to add their own features and differentiate themselves from the primary provider... at least that's how it works when Integrators and VARs resell other ILEC services. The purest form of independent DSL service provision from a non-ILEC would take place when the ISP (or whatever) simply secures real estate in the central office, and resells the copper pairs only. In this instance the competitor is providing their own concentrator, and virtually free of the ILEC's provisions altogether, with the exception of the actual copper pairs. With regards to the MSN thing, and the use of Cisco units, there may be any number of providers in a given central office, all using different manufacturers' wares, to answer your question. USWest may be using the Ciscos, but nothing is stopping them from using other brands. If some of the resellers are doing paper sales of these units, then you'll find Cisco's on them too. If the resellers, OTOH, are only reselling the copper, they may elect to use their own hardware provisions. As for the ability to rent space in the central office, the limitation is reached only when there is no more space for rent (provided that the competing entity meets other regulatory guidelines, namely things like demonstrating that they satisfy the criteria of meeting the public's necessities and convenience, and so on). This matter of there being no more floor- or rack- space available is increasingly becoming a point of heated contention between the parties, as the number of startups increases. Competitors are citing the incumbents for using perfectly good plant space for administrative and other purposes, when they could be leasing said space out to the startups, instead. And so it goes... Frank_C. ps - it's beginning to look like we're experiencing a thread transplant here. Let's all welcome the folks from ATHM. Welcome ATHM Folks!