said by FFH5:While I like Verizon and their Fios rollout, they are not in favor of local franchising.
Undoubtedly they don't like it. They must HATE it.
Imagine doing what they had to do and looking at they system as it now exists and realizing how many communities they would have to negotiate with.
But, the main point is this. They HAVE proceeded that way and have respected the process in the meantime. It's perfectly fine to not like something and to try to change it using whatever legal channels there may be as long as one recognizes in the meantime that the current system should be upheld and respected.
That is the difference here that I am talking about between them and AT&T as I see it.
AT&T simply doesn't acknowledge at all that there is a system that applies to them.
To me, it's as if you or I not liking a 55mph speed limit..
and just deciding it's perfectly ok for us to do 70 instead because of that.
What verizon is doing is saying they don't like the 55MPH speed limit but will abide by it WHILE proceeding with trying to change it.
There's a big and fundamental difference there in my view.
Personally, while i'm opposed to a national franchise type of law because anything the federal government gets into on that scale usually winds up screwed up..I am in favor of a statewide one. These laws shouldn't be such a burden as to stifle competition. But, on the other hand, then fair should be fair and the cable companies agreements should be modified as well to reflect that as well.
In all honesty, I'm seriously at the point of questioning whether AT&T is going to make it in the long run.
Not only are they so far behind the 8 ball, they don't even seem to be able to realize it.
I think the cable co's next move is going to be to try to mainstream voip in a big way. With their video and hsi offerings..they can package it to be essentially free if someone takes the other from them.
Comcast now, with their 99.00 digital/hsi/voip package is the future of what this is going to be all about.
How can AT&T compete with that? I really don't think they can.
It's going to be hard enough for the telcos to try to switch people over to iptv and the telco's triple play programs..never mind the one that today is perceived as being as weak as many see uverse to be.
Verizon, on the other hand, stands a real good chance of pulling it off because they have the perception in their court by many that fiber to the home is better than anything cable has to offer.
It should be interesting to watch how it all plays out.