GhostDoggy
join:2005-05-11
Duluth, GA
| Observe, offer, and lose?
O posted this in the BellSouth FastAccess forum, but it seems more appropriate here. A section from one news reporting agency:
"observe "network neutrality" principles, an offer of affordable stand-alone digital subscriber line service and a promise to give up some wireless spectrum"
These sound like a hollow concession. Observe principals, but what laws provide assurance they will not observe and deviate? How about we pass a law and take them to court every time the violate it?
Affordable standalone DSL product? The last time AT&T offered a standalone DSL product (in CA?) it was as, or more, expensive than the DSL product bundled with POTS. This examples how AT&T operates it's idea of concessions.
Give up wireless spectrum? They will probably give up portions of the wireless spectrum not needed, like antiquated or redundant in utilization. To me, these three items seems about as weak as one could imagine as concession-offerings.
I see no sincere offering here. Of course, I hadn't expected much more than hollowness in sincerity. |
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Varlik
Without Honor You Will Never Be Free
Premium
join:2002-01-06
Anderson, SC
1 edit | Our government for sale.
Did anyone expect anything more then a dog and pony show to happen where the AT&T / BellSouth merger was concerned. When will folks realize that the FCC like the FDA is just another servant for Big Business. Serve the interest of American citizens right, what a laugh. |
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cATTn
@swbell.net
 from:
dadkins 
| Today we're getting cable VoIP -- AT&T is finally out of my life! Goodbye you spying lying overcharging SOBs |
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plk
bo may sleep in loft
Premium
join:2002-04-20
Ogden, IA
| NO! NO! NO! NO!
This merger should not go through without Net Neutrality forever. I really don't want the Internet looking like a cable provider. These folks will destroy the Internet no if's and But's about it.
If the Bells want to go into the TV business....let them.....and they can use what ever protocol they want. But the sure the Hell are not going to run it over the Internet and block the net or degrade it like they desire.
Net Neutrality is life and death for the Internet.
Looks like we better keep calling and writing congress.
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Thermaltake 2000a/Asus P4C-e/p4 3.4/ocz3500 2x512/WD.2x200g/raptor2x74 raid 0/ATI 9600/APC sua 1500/Logitech z-680/ Samsung 213t LCD/MX 1000 |
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Jason Levine
Premium
join:2001-07-13
USA
| AOL continues it's decline
From Q2 2006 to Q3 2006, AOL lost 2.5 million subscribers. Over the past year (Q3 2005 to Q3 2006), they've lost 4.9 million. Plus, the number two ISP (Comcast) is now within striking distance of AOL. They went from 8.1 million to 11 million last year, for a gain for 3.1 million. If AOL continues to lose subscribers at this rate, and Comcast continues to gain at that rate, then 2007 will be the year that AOL topples from the top slot.
My predictions:
1. Quarter 2 of 2007 will be the Quarter That AOL Fell. Comcast will take over the top spot. Meanwhile, SBC and RoadRunner will be nipping at AOL's heals.
2. By Quarter 4 of 2007, AOL will be ranked third behind Comcast and SBC and just a hair ahead of RoadRunner. (It might even be fourth if RoadRunner picks up the pace slightly.)
3. AOL's subscriber bleed will accelerate after they aren't number one anymore. However, after awhile, AOL will be left with a core group of AOLers who, for whatever reason, continue to insist on paying AOL for Internet access. That core group won't dissipate easily and AOL's slide will slow down to a trickle. Of course, by that point, AOL won't be in the top 5 ISPs anymore. We'll probably see the "Core group" come into effect sometime in 2008. |
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Topmounter
Sent By Grocery Clerks
join:2001-02-20
Evergreen, CO | reply to plk
Re: NO! NO! NO! NO!
Net neutrality should only apply in non-competitive markets.
I'd rather see cable, telco and wireless compete instead of having the government telling them what service they can and cannot offer. |
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plk
bo may sleep in loft
Premium
join:2002-04-20
Ogden, IA
| But isn't that still regulation??? Can you define competitive markets???? That in itself is a regulation nightmare waiting to happen. Not to mention all the lobbing it would cause and money wasted that could go into the network.
The Bells can do just about what ever they want. They can start a new Internet and call it what ever they want and offer what ever they want. They just can't take what is already here and free for the most part and make it their own private toll booth.
The easiest way is what we have now. Net Neutrality...... it just isn't law and it should be.
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Thermaltake 2000a/Asus P4C-e/p4 3.4/ocz3500 2x512/WD.2x200g/raptor2x74 raid 0/ATI 9600/APC sua 1500/Logitech z-680/ Samsung 213t LCD/MX 1000 |
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billy2313
Roadrunner
join:2001-10-13
Middletown, OH | Naked dsl for all plans
I try to get nakid dsl yesterday here in ohio they told me know because i had the elite package. Said if i wanted it i would have to downgrade... |
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Fatal Vector
join:2005-11-26
1 edit |
YAWN. And this is news because...? Move on. Nothing new here. Just more Ma Bell. Be afraid. Be VERY afraid. |
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