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TELECOM Digest Fri, 9 Sep 2005 21:01:00 EDT Volume 24 : Issue 412 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Qwest Launches New Legal Fight Against City of Portland (Mike Rogoway) Qwest Executive's Lawyer Says Company Knew About Fraud (Associated Press) Telecom Update #496, September 9, 2005 (Angus TeleManagement Group) HP Demos Advanced TV Technology that Delivers Direct Access (Monty Solomon) Pilot Episode of New Fox Series 'Reunion' to Be Available (Monty Solomon) Checking In at Home, Even From Afar (Monty Solomon) NYC Phone Rates, was: Sid Ceasar and Phones in Comedy (Danny Burstein) Re: Arizona Budget POTS Plans (John Levine) Re: Laptops Turn On, Tune In to Seattle Metro's New Wi-Fi (Michael Chance) Re: Laptops Turn On, Tune In to Seattle Metro's New Wi-Fi (John L. Shelton) Telecom and VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Digest for the Internet. All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and the individual writers/correspondents. Articles may be used in other journals or newsgroups, provided the writer's name and the Digest are included in the fair use quote. By using -any name or email address- included herein for -any- reason other than responding to an article herein, you agree to pay a hundred dollars to the recipients of the email. =========================== Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be sold or given away without explicit written consent. Chain letters, viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome. We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime. Geoffrey Welsh =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Mike Rogoway <oregonian@telecom-digest.org> Subject: Qwest Lauches New Legal Fight Against Portland Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2005 19:16:58 by Mike Rogoway, The Oregonian The communications company sues the city, alleging the government system hurts competition. Qwest Communications International Inc. has opened a new front in its long-running legal battle with the city of Portland, suing to rein in the city's internal telecommunications system. Portland launched its network in 2002 to get around the rates Qwest and other telecom companies charge for phone lines and high-speed Internet connections. Portland's $14 million system links several city offices, and a few government agencies outside the city, to a network of fiber-optic cable that carries city phone calls and Internet traffic. The Integrated Regional Network Enterprise is known by its initials, IRNE, pronounced "Ernie." Portland says IRNE provides super-fast Internet connections the city couldn't otherwise afford. The city, however, estimates it has already spent $150,000 on legal fees defending the system against earlier challenges from Qwest and others. Qwest's latest suit, filed late last week in U.S. District Court, calls IRNE an illegal, government-sponsored competitor. Qwest complains that the city is abusing its regulatory authority by forcing telecom companies to connect IRNE to their networks in exchange for permission to use city-owned rights of way for the companies' private networks. "It provides, basically, unfair competition and makes it very, very difficult for the private sector to compete," said Judy Peppler, Qwest's Oregon president. Portland grants IRNE access to the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Port of Portland, Metro and other government agencies, which Peppler said robs telecom companies of large, lucrative customers. Qwest's suit doesn't seek to unhook IRNE or extract damages from the city. Instead, Qwest asks the court to stop Portland from forcing telecom companies to connect to IRNE. The suit also would require other governments to seek competitive bids before connecting to Portland's network. "We're just trying to get it back on a level playing field, an equal footing," Peppler said. Matt Lampe, the city's chief technology officer, said Qwest's accusations don't reflect the way IRNE actually works. Portland used to compel phone companies to open their networks to the city, he said, but no longer does so. And Lampe said the city collects just $100,000 in annual revenue from IRNE, so its agreements with other government agencies are too small to threaten Qwest. "It's almost like they're looking for a diabolical plot that isn't there," Lampe said. Portland and Qwest have been squabbling for years, largely over millions in franchise fees the phone company says Oregon cities don't have the authority to collect. A separate round of litigation over IRNE began a year ago with suits by Qwest's long-distance arm and a few smaller telecom companies. The Qwest division providing local phone service filed the latest suit last week, which may eventually be joined to the others. Qwest has at least three lawsuits pending against the city related to franchise fees or IRNE. City Commissioner Dan Saltzman, who oversees the city bureau responsible for telecom franchises, said Qwest is pushing back against Portland's innovative approach to telecommunications. "I think Portland has been a leader in certainly exploring a lot of options to provide broadband services," Saltzman said. "Maybe we're targeted by Qwest because of that." Mike Rogoway: 503-294-7699, mikerogoway@news.oregonian.com Copyright 2005 The Oregonian. NOTE: For more telecom/internet/networking/computer news from the daily media, check out our feature 'Telecom Digest Extra' each day at http://telecom-digest.org/td-extra/more-news.html . Hundreds of new articles daily. *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. This Internet discussion group is making it available without profit to group members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of literary, educational, political, and economic issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. I believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner, in this instance, The Oregonian. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ------------------------------ From: Associated Press NewsWire <ap@telecom-digest.org> Subject: Qwest Executive's Lawyer Says Others Involved in Fraud Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2005 19:19:58 -0500 The Associated Press Sep. 8, 2005 - An attorney for a former Qwest executive charged with fraud and money laundering said in a court filing that others in the company engaged in the same conduct alleged in the indictment, and that the company knew about it and authorized it. Marc B. Weisberg, a former Qwest Communications International Inc. senior vice president who oversaw mergers, acquisitions and investments, was indicted in February by a federal grand jury on eight counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering. Prosecutors allege Weisberg made $2.9 million for himself, family members and friends between 1999 and 2001 by demanding that vendors offer them stock in return for doing business with the company. The government wants Weisberg to forfeit $2.9 million and other assets. Weisberg has pleaded innocent. His lawyer revealed what may be part of the defense strategy in a document filed in federal court on Sept. 1. "Weisberg will demonstrate that many individuals at Qwest engaged in conduct similar or perhaps even identical to his own, that Qwest knew of the conduct alleged in the indictment, and that Qwest authorized investments that the government now contends victimized Qwest," the filing said. The government began investigating the telecommunications giant for fraud starting in 2002. Last month, former chief financial officer Robin Szeliga pleaded guilty to one count of insider trading, becoming the highest-ranking one-time executive to admit wrongdoing. She will be sentenced Nov. 4. Her plea agreement recommends a term of 15 months to 21 months. She agreed to pay $125,000 in restitution and to cooperate with prosecutors. Thomas Hall pleaded guilty in September to falsifying documents and was sentenced to probation. Grant Graham has pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to wire fraud and is expected to receive probation. John Walker and Bryan Treadway were acquitted in April of charges including fraud and conspiracy. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. NOTE: For more telecom/internet/networking/computer news from the daily media, check out our feature 'Telecom Digest Extra' each day at http://telecom-digest.org/td-extra/more-news.html . Hundreds of new articles daily. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2005 12:07:57 -0700 Subject: Telecom Update #496, September 9, 2005 From: Angus TeleManagement Group <jriddell@angustel.ca> Reply-To: Angus TeleManagement Group <jriddell@angustel.ca> ************************************************************ TELECOM UPDATE ************************************************************ published weekly by Angus TeleManagement Group http://www.angustel.ca Number 496: September 9, 2005 Publication of Telecom Update is made possible by generous financial support from: ** AVAYA: www.avaya.ca/en/ ** BELL CANADA: www.bell.ca ** CISCO SYSTEMS CANADA: www.cisco.com/ca/ ** ERICSSON: www.ericsson.ca ** MITEL NETWORKS: www.mitel.com/ ** NEC UNIFIED SOLUTIONS: www.necunifiedsolutions.com ** ROGERS TELECOM: www.rogers.com/solutions ** VONAGE CANADA: www.vonage.ca ************************************************************ IN THIS ISSUE: ** Bell Launches VoIP Push ** CRTC Invites Comment on Bell VoIP Tariffs ** Broadband Hearing in Whitehorse Today ** Cellcos Consider Number Portability Plan ** 800,000 Phones Still Out on Gulf Coast ** Respondents Added to Telcos' Court Appeal ** Rogers Wants Unbundled Loops From Remotes ** Bell Amends VoIP Tariff re 9-1-1 Calls ** Manitoba Tel CEO to Retire ** ITAC Study Says Canada Lags in ICT ** Vonage Activates Millionth Line ** Videotron Signs 75,000 Phone Subscribers ** New Anik Satellite Goes Aloft ** Ericsson Enables Remote Cellphone Upgrades ** Allstream Wins Via Rail Contract ** Telecom Hall of Fame Gala Grows ============================================================ BELL LAUNCHES VoIP PUSH: Bell Canada has announced its long-expected response to competition from cablecos and other suppliers of IP-based telephone service. The response involves two offerings: ** Digital Voice converts an existing standard phone line to VoIP using facilities in the Bell switching centre. Base price is $40/month, not including long distance. Additional numbers in 23 cities are $4 each. ** Digital Voice Lite is the new name for Bell's previously announced access-independent VoIP service, which requires a high-speed Internet connection. (See Telecom Update #475) Base price is $34/month for local calling and 1,200 minutes of province-wide long distance; Canada-U.S. LD is $5 extra. ** Digital Voice is available now in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas. It will be rolled out next in Montreal, and then elsewhere in Ontario and Quebec. Digital Voice Lite, launched last March in three Quebec cities, is now offered across Ontario and Quebec. CRTC INVITES COMMENT ON BELL VoIP TARIFFS: The CRTC gave interim approval to Bell's Digital Voice and Digital Voice Lite tariffs last week, but allowed the details to remain confidential until September 8. Parties now have 25 days to comment. www.crtc.gc.ca/8740/eng/2005/b2/tn6899.zip www.crtc.gc.ca/8740/eng/2005/b2/tn6889.doc ** Bell Canada has asked the Commission to allow it to charge different prices for Digital Voice in Ontario and Quebec. In Telecom Public Notice 2005-13, the CRTC asks for comment on whether it should approve that aspect of the tariff. www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Notices/2005/pt2005-13.htm ** In Public Notice 2005-9, the CRTC launched a public discussion of Bell's original Digital Voice tariff (now rebranded Digital Voice Lite), which is still ongoing. www.crtc.gc.ca/PartVII/eng/2005/8661/c12_200507973.htm BROADBAND HEARING IN WHITEHORSE TODAY: The Telecom Policy Review panel is holding a forum on broadband access today in Whitehorse, Yukon, to be followed by an online discussion until September 16. To view presenters' slides or participate in the online discussion, register at the panel's website. www.telecomreview.ca/epic/internet/intprp-gecrt.nsf/en/h_rx00038e.html#webcast CELLCOS CONSIDER NUMBER PORTABILITY PLAN: The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association says that the Wireless Number Portability Task Force is now considering a draft plan for wireless number portability prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The Task Force aims to complete its review and issue guidelines by the end of the month. 800,000 PHONES STILL OUT ON GULF COAST: BellSouth says it has restored service to about half of the 1.7 million phone lines that were cut off during Hurricane Katrina. The company estimates the total cost of repairing its network will be US$400 million to $600 million. ** Wireline, wireless, and Internet services have been disrupted; in New Orleans, satellite phones provided the only reliable means of communications. RESPONDENTS ADDED TO TELCOS' COURT APPEAL: On instructions from the Federal Court, the telcos that want to appeal the CRTC's VoIP decision (see Telecom Update #486) have added Rogers, Shaw, Videotron, Cogeco, EastLink, the Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association, MTS Allstream, and ARCH (a legal resource centre for persons with disabilities) as respondents to their application. The respondents may now file opposing arguments. ROGERS WANTS UNBUNDLED LOOPS FROM REMOTES: Rogers Telecom has asked the CRTC to order Bell Canada to make unbundled loops available in areas served by remote switches. Rogers says Bell is refusing to install the necessary equipment, resulting in up to nine months' delay in Rogers' ability to offer service in new areas. www.crtc.gc.ca/PartVII/eng/2005/8622/r29_200510497.htm BELL AMENDS VoIP TARIFF RE 9-1-1 CALLS: Bell Canada has amended the tariff for its Managed IP Telephony service (see Telecom Update #442) to spell out limitations on how 9-1-1 calls are handled. www.crtc.gc.ca/8740/eng/2005/B2.htm#200510190 MANITOBA TEL CEO TO RETIRE: Bill Fraser plans to retire as CEO of Manitoba Telecom next year; the telco has begun a search for a successor. Fraser led MTS in its purchase of Allstream last year, which transformed the telco into Canada's third-largest national carrier. ITAC STUDY SAYS CANADA LAGS IN ICT: A study prepared for the Information Technology Association of Canada finds that the average investment per worker in Information and Communications Technology in 2003 was US$1,332 in Canada, less than half of the U.S. figure. VONAGE ACTIVATES MILLIONTH LINE: Internet telephony provider Vonage Holdings says it has more than one million subscribers in North America. Its Canadian subscriber total has not been made public. VIDEOTRON SIGNS 75,000 PHONE SUBSCRIBERS: Videotron Ltee says it signed its 75,000th cable telephone subscriber during August. The cableco aims to provide 349,000 phone lines customers by the end of next year. NEW ANIK SATELLITE GOES ALOFT: Telesat Canada's Anik F1R satellite has been successfully launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Republic of Kazakhstan. It will provide telecom and broadcasting services, including direct-to-home satellite television, and enhanced global positioning for aviation use in Canada and the U.S. ERICSSON ENABLES REMOTE CELLPHONE UPGRADES: Rogers Wireless is the first Canadian cellco, and one of the first in the world, to provide automatic remote configuration and software updates to its customers' cellphones, using technology from Ericsson. ALLSTREAM WINS VIA RAIL CONTRACT: Allstream has signed a three-year contract with Via Rail Canada to provide voice and data services to call centres, train stations, and administrative offices. TELECOM HALL OF FAME GALA GROWS: The dinner and celebration announcing the first laureates in Canada's new Telecommunications Hall of Fame has been moved to a larger hall in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The gala will be held Monday October 17, as part of Telemanagement Live, Canada's premier business telecom and networking event. ** For more information, or to register, go to www.telemanagementlive.com. ============================================================ HOW TO SUBMIT ITEMS FOR TELECOM UPDATE E-mail ianangus@angustel.ca and jriddell@angustel.ca =========================================================== HOW TO SUBSCRIBE (OR UNSUBSCRIBE) TELECOM UPDATE is provided in electronic form only. There are two formats available: 1. The fully-formatted edition is posted on the World Wide Web late Friday afternoon each week at www.angustel.ca 2. The e-mail edition is distributed free of charge. To subscribe, send an e-mail message to: join-telecom_update@nova.sparklist.com To stop receiving the e-mail edition, send an e-mail message to: leave-telecom_update@nova.sparklist.com Sending e-mail to these addresses will automatically add or remove the sender's e-mail address from the list. Leave subject line and message area blank. We do not give Telecom Update subscribers' e-mail addresses to any third party. For more information, see www.angustel.ca/update/privacy.html. =========================================================== COPYRIGHT AND CONDITIONS OF USE: All contents copyright 2005 Angus TeleManagement Group Inc. All rights reserved. For further information, including permission to reprint or reproduce, please e-mail jriddell@angustel.ca. The information and data included has been obtained from sources which we believe to be reliable, but Angus TeleManagement makes no warranties or representations whatsoever regarding accuracy, completeness, or adequacy. Opinions expressed are based on interpretation of available information, and are subject to change. If expert advice on the subject matter is required, the services of a competent professional should be obtained. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2005 19:08:13 -0400 From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com> Subject: HP Demos Advanced TV Technology that Delivers Direct Access HP Demos Advanced TV Technology that Delivers Direct Access to Multimedia PC Content; Company Also Ships Digital Entertainment Centers and New Line of TVs in Time for Holiday Buying Season - Sep 9, 2005 07:45 AM (BusinessWire) INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 9, 2005--HP (NYSE:HPQ) (Nasdaq:HPQ) today demonstrated advanced digital media technology for its high-definition televisions (HDTVs) that will give people direct access to digital content -- from movies to photos to music to personal videos -- that's currently stored on their PCs. The company is also shipping a new line of microdisplay, plasma and LCD TVs as well as its high-definition Digital Entertainment Centers in time for holiday shopping. Showcased this week at the Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) tradeshow and slated for distribution next summer, the advanced digital media technology will enable HP HDTVs to communicate with all PC devices on a home network, including HP Digital Entertainment Centers. HP HDTVs that ship with this functionality will also contain other advancements that will provide consumers with new ways to access entertainment. These future televisions will provide consumers with multimedia services over the Internet -- directly via their HP advanced digital media HDTV. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=51674658 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2005 19:08:13 -0400 From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com> Subject: Pilot Episode of New Fox Series 'Reunion' to Be Available Pilot Episode of New Fox Series 'Reunion' to Be Available for Viewing On-Demand Exclusively on AOL.com - Sep 9, 2005 10:30 AM (BusinessWire) NEW YORK & LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 9, 2005--The full pilot episode of FOX's much-anticipated new series "Reunion" from Warner Bros. Television will be available for viewing free and on-demand via the AOL.com website ( http://www.aol.com ) beginning Monday, Sept. 12. It will be the first time that FOX has made an episode available for viewing online in its entirety via a non-FOX website. This collaboration between FOX, AOL and Warner Bros. Television will extend to future episodes, with unique and exclusive elements from the show launching on AOL.com each week. "Reunion," which premiered on FOX Thursday, Sept. 8 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), marks a groundbreaking concept in series television as it chronicles the lives of a group of six friends over the course of 20 years - all in just one season. The pilot episode will be available for viewing on-demand through AOL Television at http://www.aol.com/reunion from Sept. 12-14, and visitors can also view exclusive weekly previews of future episodes. In cooperation with AOL Music ( http://www.aolmusic.com ), the site will allow visitors to listen to and purchase music featured in each episode, as well as a selection of some of the most memorable songs from the past 20 years. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a retrospective of pop culture highlights from the past two decades. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=51678545 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2005 14:06:42 -0400 From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com> Subject: Checking In at Home, Even From Afar By JOHN R. QUAIN For some, the problem with being on the road is the anxiety that things might be amiss at home. Are the cats behaving? Is the baby sitter keeping the peace? Are interlopers helping themselves to your Scotch -- and your stereo? Some relatively simple technology can ease that angst. Several network video cameras allow owners to monitor the home front remotely on the Web. The cameras offer much better video quality than in the past, come in wireless versions that make installation simpler, and allow you to zoom in and scan a room. Some models, using motion and heat sensors, can alert you every time someone walks through a room. And there are even ways to look in by cellphone. Most systems can be installed by the buyer, and prices range from about $100 to $1,300, depending on camera quality and system abilities. Unlike the Webcams commonly used to do video chats online, these cameras do not have to be connected to a computer, and they can be monitored from any device connected to the Internet. But they are far from inconspicuous and require an always-on high-speed Internet connection and a home network or access point to make the connection. The simplest offerings are stand-alone video cameras with built-in Web servers. I experimented with three such models, the $230 Linksys WVC54G Wireless-G Internet video camera and two more advanced $1,000 cameras, the Panasonic BB-HCM371A network camera and the D-Link DCS-6620G Wireless Internet camera. The latter two are aimed more at small businesses - the Panasonic model even includes a splash guard for outdoor installations - but both are comfortable at home. The Linksys model is typical of cameras in its price range and has a setup routine that is similar to the other models that I tried. The video camera has a built-in Web server, for example, that allows it to connect to the Internet without relying on a computer. To set up the camera initially, you run a software program on your PC and connect the camera to your home network with an Ethernet cable. A Windows program guides users through the process, although neophytes may struggle a bit with the more arcane settings. Most homeowners who use a Wi-Fi network will also have to set their network router to open a door in their security firewall so the camera's video can be seen over the Internet. After all the information is loaded into the camera, it can be disconnected from the Ethernet cable and plugged into any power outlet within about 150 feet of the Wi-Fi network. (The actual distance depends on possible interference, like steel-reinforced walls.) I connected the camera to a power outlet in my living room. Within seconds, the Linksys camera had made the connection to my wireless network, and I could record video to my PC or take snapshots. Gaining access to the camera over the Internet from another computer, however, requires some adroit software. For security reasons, most Internet service providers regularly change the numerical address (the so-called I.P. address) of devices online. So, to see the video feed from a network camera over the Internet, some kind of service or software is needed to keep track of the camera's address changes. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/08/technology/circuits/08basics.html?ex=1283832000&en=dd801f6e916a2e95&ei=5090 ------------------------------ From: Danny Burstein <dannyb@panix.com> Subject: NYC Phone Rates, was: Sid Ceasar and Phones in Comedy Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2005 18:50:40 UTC Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and UNIX, NYC In <telecom24.411.18@telecom-digest.org> Wesrock@aol.com writes: > Has anything but measured service every been available in New York, > where the Honeymooners was set? In the 1950s through the early 1960s, residential consumers in NYC were offered two plans: a) a true flat rate service, but this only applied to calls in your very local neighborhood. So if you were calling the drugstore 1/2 mile away you were probably in the zone, but calling the movie theater three miles down the blvd to get its schedule cost you per minute. b) An untimed, but charged per call, rate, that covered a reasonably decent area. When this was first set up (at least in the early 1960s, can't say for earlier) you had an allowance of 75 "message units" in your base charge. Above those 75 calls you paid an additional 5 cents or so, untimed. Note that the untimed message unit did NOT give you the entire five boroughs, It let you call your own borough and, depending on your location, about half the rest of the city and some suburban areas. For most people and most calls (certainly not all) that was close enough. Bit by bit the 75 message unit allowace got cut down, so nowadays there's nothing there there. On the slight plus side back in the 1970s the "local area" for untimed calls expanded to the entire city. (Nowadays a bunch of very confusing options are available through Verizon and the various CLECS, cablecos, and other folk). -- Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key dannyb@panix.com [to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded] ------------------------------ Date: 9 Sep 2005 20:21:01 -0000 From: John Levine <johnl@iecc.com> Subject: Re: Arizona Budget POTS Plans Organization: I.E.C.C., Trumansburg NY USA > And so, finally on to the question, does anyone know if Qwest offers a > real low cost (perhaps metered) service for POTS in the 480 area? ... > The Qwest web site is no help; it only talks about premium plans. The Qwest web site is quite helpful if you look on their tariff server. It says that low use resi service is $8.50/month plus 20 cents per call (plus the usual taxes and fees.) There appears to be a one-time charge of $10 to switch from flat rate to low use. IT is definitely available in Phoenix. By comparison. flat rate is $13.18, so it's not that much cheaper. When the Qwest rep denies that it's available, the USOC order code is RMN. R's, John ------------------------------ From: Michael Chance <mchance@swbell.net> Subject: Re: Laptops Turn On, Tune In to Seattle Metro's New Wi-Fi Organization: SBC http://yahoo.sbc.com Date: Fri, 09 Sep 2005 23:41:42 GMT In article <telecom24.409.4@telecom-digest.org>, aljon@stny.rr.com says: > I wish more cities would get gutsy and fight the local Teleco > incumbent (it seems that they and the cable provider think they "own" > connection to the Internet) Uh, because maybe they *do* own the connection to the Internet? At least the physical wires and switches. > to put FREE Wi-FI every where (especially > on busses with the high cost of fuel) they want. TANSTAAFL Michael Chance ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 09 Sep 2005 16:46:25 -0700 From: John L. Shelton <john@jshelton.com> Subject: Re: Laptops Turn On, Tune in to Seattle Metro's New WiFi > John, it sounds to me you are either a paid mouth piece (lobbyist) for > the fixed line providers (LEC or cable company), or employed by > Qworst, I'm sorry, I mean Qwest. I am an unpaid mouthpiece for free enterprise. I am currently on long-term medical leave from a NON telecom company. It is wrong for SBC to achieve monopoly via political maneuvering, and it is wrong for the local government to build a tax-subsidized monopoly. The only fair thing to do is let all interested parties offer service. If no one finds it economical to do so, that doesn't imply a government mandate. It might be nice if we all had original 17th century oil paintings in our houses, but "nice" doesn't cut it. One wouldn't expect government dollars to pay for that (or perhaps we would -- gee, 17th century oil-paintings are "art" and deserve government museums, but Elvis Presley is not art, so he can pitch his music commercially ...) Once the government has run off all competition by use of subsidies, who will keep their efforts economical? Will it work like schools, roads, and the mail, where there is no fraud, waste, or controversy? Give me a break. When government is the dominant player, things get broken. Do you really trust the people who won't patch potholes or widen the highways, yet take billions in road-maintenance money, to provide you with better and better internet connections "for free?" With SBC competing against others, they have to offer better service to earn your repeat business. With the city, you wind up with no choice. I understand you think SBC and others can still compete. Just like private schools compete with public. But it's not real competition, when the public schools have a $10k/student subsidy. And it won't be the same with wireless, either. =John= john@jshelton.com ------------------------------ TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly to telecomm- unications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of networks such as Compuserve and America On Line, Yahoo Groups, and other forums. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. TELECOM Digest is a not-for-profit, mostly non-commercial educational service offered to the Internet by Patrick Townson. All the contents of the Digest are compilation-copyrighted. You may reprint articles in some other media on an occasional basis, but please attribute my work and that of the original author. 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