Fiber on a Stick > Big Bells are back!!!

reply to IGoDwnTwn

Re: Big Bells are back!!!

Why are the Bells complaining about municipal broadband project deploying their own fiber? Can't have it both ways.

reply to ParanoiaInc
Because the Bells have their monopoly profits to pay for it. There is a big difference. They were given a HUGE advantage when they built out their networks. They then have that to fall back on to prop up other efforts.

Plus, they are the incumbent (again, monopoly benefit). They only need to get someone to upgrade, vs. switching for the rest of the CLECs. They can lay fibre and have guaranteed customers for it, even if they just transition over old copper people.

Additionally, if they transfer customers to the fibre and are not forced to share, they can completely lock out any form of competition.

TheGhost

No they can't copper still comes to your house.

reply to SRFireside
Seems fairly simple to me.

In Municipal Broadband the government steals my money for a government project to build something I don't want. Then since they don't have to make a profit they can charge what appears to be a very low rate for the service (even though I have already paid for it via taxes) and drive other broadband providers out of business. Now marginal ABC Telco (who is already over regulated by the government) has been forced into deploying infrastructure into no-profitable areas in the first place must compete with a government funded competitor who does not face the risks of running their own business.

I would be pissed if the government regulated me and then stole your money in order to compete with me.

Sigh...

Okay one more time. I am not saying municipal broadband is the answer. I am saying the one laying the fiber should only be a provisioner. When you have a company that controls the infrastructure and only leases the infrastructure to service providers THAT is when you will see a more level playing field in competition. The small and large companies both have to go through the same channels, which would just be the provisioning.

I don't think any ILEC should lay the fiber because they are service providers and they don't want to share the line. Thus zero competition. A municipal run infrastructure that is done like I mentioned would on the other hand work since it wouldn't compete. Municipal broadband that's going on now isn't what I'm talking about. Though I do see it helping out these communities.

Oh by the way... the municipalities vote on whether or not they go through with providing broadband services so if you don't want it you do at least have a say. Also many of them don't take a cent from the tax payers.