A tale of two companies...

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Rick Premium,MVM join:2001-02-06 Waterbury, CT	A tale of two companies... It's interesting to note how Verizon and AT&T have differed in their approach to not only rolling out advanced broadband and iptv services, but in how they have legally and politically addressed this issue as well. Verizon, while maybe not liking it too much, has chosen to go the traditional route as far as seeking out franchise agreements and in doing so, has recognized their corporate responsibilities in adhering to the law, while at the same time recognizing that the investment now in laying out fiber to the home will probably pay big dividends later on down the road. AT&T meanwhile, apparently believes these laws have no meaning to them and have decided instead to attempt to bully, ridicule, and sue their way into the customers homes with their own pieced together version of fiber almost to the neighborhood. And, almost weekly now we hear of yet another Verizon victory in terms of areas and customers being connected and franchise agreements being approved, while the news out of the AT&T camp seems to involve some lawsuit or community being pissed off at them. One has to wonder what in the world ever came over AT&T to think that they could ever win at such a failed strategy. Can you imagine being a company of this size and taking on a strategy of simply ignoring the existing cable act laws that govern this and then in an attempt to win, fighting with every community you serve up to and including filing suit in an apparent attempt to bully their way into other communities? Even with their recent apparent "win" here in Ct...they now have the Atty General saying he's going after them. I completely fail to see what they hope to achieve with this strategy. Even if at some point down the road there becomes a national law to have franchise agreements happen at the federal or state levels nationwide, they're still going to be paying probably the same fees. AT&T has reportedly said that if they were even to get one new franchise agreement a week, it would take them 8 years. Well, how long do they think it will take to fight every tom dick and harry in state goverment while arguing their cases before courts all over this country? And how much bad publicity happens to them when headlines all over the United States reads..AT&T Sues (insert the name of your community). Verizon really has to be sitting back now feeling pretty good about their strategy. And probably can't help but to stifle a chuckle or two at AT&T's. ~RRR -- The life you help save just might be your own Team Discovery
	to forum · permalink · 2006-05-23 13:38:37 ·

NY Tel Premium join:2004-04-09 Smithtown, NY kudos:3 Reviews: ·AT&T CallVantage	said by Rick: It's interesting to note how Verizon and AT&T have differed in their approach to not only rolling out advanced broadband and iptv services, but in how AT&T has reportedly said that if they were even to get one new franchise agreement a week, it would take them 8 years. Well, how long do they think it will take to fight every tom dick and harry in state goverment while arguing their cases before courts all over this country? And how much bad publicity happens to them when headlines all over the United States reads..AT&T Sues (insert the name of your community). Verizon really has to be sitting back now feeling pretty good about their strategy. And probably can't help but to stifle a chuckle or two at AT&T's. ~RRR Well one look at Ed Whiteacre and you can understand why his company takes such an approach. Now remember it is really SBC you are dealing with but none-the less, they are nothing like Verizon which is probably why the "original" AT&T failed and had to be bailed out by SBC. What goes around...comes around.
	to forum · permalink · 2006-05-23 16:57:04 ·

Verizon Wins NJ Statewide Franchise > A tale of two companies...