| Not completely wrong I'm disappointed not to see a more agressive attitude from their management on upgrading service, but I don't think the COO is completely wrong. More or less, this is a marketing and perception issue more than anything. I have a 1M connection at my apartment through a local company (it's provided by my landlord), and even though I could get a 3M connection for extra $, I haven't done it. I really am fine with the connection I have. I can watch videos, work remotely, and of course email. I think it's mainly here on DSLR that people are concerned about being able to say they have the biggest peni pipe. Cable gets a lot of Internet customers just because in more cases the customer does not have a business relationship with Qwest.
Which brings me to the real problem Qwest has. Since just about everyone has decided that he or she needs a cell/wireless phone in order to
A) be annoying by talking on it all the time, regardless of surroundings/situation
B) use it while driving so as to increase the carnage on the roads (note: text message is especially helpful in causing collisions)
C) pump lots of non-ionizing radiation into the brain
Qwest is at a disadvantage over cable -- no one can seem to live without the mostly mindless programming that it provides; so the customer already is getting services there and it's the likely choice for Internet service.
I think the other thing that doesn't get brought up much is that my understanding is that Verizon's home territory (Bell Atlantic-NYNEX) is an area where most customers are served by aerial connections. In Iowa, most Qwest customers are served by underground cable. It's much more capital intensive to run a new underground cable to a customer than an aerial connection. So FTTH for Qwest would be a much more expensive endeavor for Qwest than Verizon. You Qwest guys can correct me if I'm wrong. |
