When cable companies get too big, or control too much of the cable markets the FCC and DOJ step in and say--sell off parts of your territory.
So now that the Telcos are trying to become television delivery networks why not apply the same rule.
Can you see those folks at Verizon and SBC when someone says "time to break up" to them, and this time they mean all of their holdings. To me pipe is pipe. It doesn't matter if its FTTH, DSL, Copper, Wireless or by osmosis, if the telco delivers the signal it likely can deliver a better, and competitive with cable type of service, by building out the network sooner, faster, etc.
Somehow the RBOC's will argue that they are only in trials...and trials lead to rollouts and rollouts lead to national coverage and national coverage becomes monopoly.
Andy says, apply the same rules to all, or throw away the rule book. My guess is we're heading towards a major rewrite of the entire FCC Telecom Act. One that takes into consideration that technology evolution cannot be bound by prior era thoughts, laws or practices.
I think the telecom lobby in DC will be very hot next year, with the RBOC's and Cable MSO's spending big bucks to influence everyone from the FCC to your congressperson.
I say, Vote of Jeff. Pulver has the best handle of this stuff and if he can divorce himself from his current business interests long enough, he may be the guy to get this thing going the right way. Maybe the President can look at appointing him to an FCC committee or two.
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