calvoiper
join:2003-03-31
Belvedere Tiburon, CA
| Monopoly? What monopoly?
There is all this talk of the City giving Google/Earthlink a "monopoly." What monopoly? There are several ISPs operating in San Francisco. A monopoly on Wi-Fi? No way, the FCC would never allow that. A monopoly on "free"? No, anybody can give something away.
What's left? A monopoly on placing Wi-Fi equipment on streetlight poles? So what?
The choices for "competitors" between now and 2015 are between 1) not putting Wi-Fi on streetlights because only Google/Earthlink can or 2) not putting Wi-Fi on streetlights because nobody can. After about 2015, "competitors" might be able to ride a city-run network, but if you're familiar with how well SF city government "runs" things (like the municipal streetcar and bus system) you can bet that competitors will have already gone Wi-Max, Wi-Fi from private (or utility) locations, or some other technology.
This harebrained "public fiber" scheme is a roadmap to failure and corruption.
calvoiper
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VoIP--the death knell of remaining voice monopolies! |
