wmcbrine
Touched by His Noodly Appendage
join:2002-12-30
Laurel, MD
| reply to openbox9
Re: this is competition?
said by openbox9  :Nothing prevents you from starting a business in any marketplace. Except a few billion in startup costs...
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jimbo2150
join:2004-05-10
Youngstown, OH
| said by wmcbrine :Except a few billion in startup costs... Not to mention the large, overbearing weight of a local monopoly, duopoly, or oligopoly crushing down with every business-crushing tactic known to greedy corporations...
Imagine that: a company or two with the ability to quickly lower prices to below cost at a moments notice, take on a small bit of profit reduction or loss, destroy your business, then intermediately re-raise their prices on all customers at a moments notice once the competi... er... "threat" has been eliminated.
<sarcasm>No, all is well in the business world.</sarcasm>
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- "Techie" Jim |
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openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA | You're right, competition sucks. Why should we expect anyone else to start competing if it's so difficult to get started? |
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openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA | reply to wmcbrine
It doesn't cost billions to initiate a business. Start small and expand over time  |
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jimbo2150
join:2004-05-10
Youngstown, OH
| reply to openbox9
said by openbox9 :You're right, competition sucks. Why should we expect anyone else to start competing if it's so difficult to get started? Your half right. Competition does not suck, corporations with power above and beyond competition do! That is what regulation is for. The only difference is that regulation can be done right without destroying businesses but at the same time leveling the playing field and letting competition actually exist without destructive business practices. I don't think that we should break up ma bell again like before but I think regulation to prevent them from shutting out all competitors from using their infrastructure to compete (either wise it will take millions to start) would be nice.
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- "Techie" Jim |
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openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
 ·AT&T Southeast
| said by jimbo2150 :I don't think that we should break up ma bell again like before but I think regulation to prevent them from shutting out all competitors from using their infrastructure to compete Therein lies the rub. Regulating private business to force them to open their infrastructure to competitors without requiring the competitors to make their own infrastructure investment (millions as you mention) smacks in the face of free market and capitalism IMO. The competition had their chance after 1996. A couple of CLECs began building their own plant, but most did not and now suffer the consequences. Making a successful business requires investment into the business. I may not agree with municipal ISP build outs, but at least they are investing in their infrastructure vice forcing private companies to open their cable plants. |
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Hangmn
Don't Fight It...It's Inevitable
Premium
join:2000-04-08
Philadelphia, PA
| said by openbox9 :said by jimbo2150 :I don't think that we should break up ma bell again like before but I think regulation to prevent them from shutting out all competitors from using their infrastructure to compete Therein lies the rub. Regulating private business to force them to open their infrastructure to competitors without requiring the competitors to make their own infrastructure investment (millions as you mention) smacks in the face of free market and capitalism IMO. The competition had their chance after 1996. A couple of CLECs began building their own plant, but most did not and now suffer the consequences. Making a successful business requires investment into the business. I may not agree with municipal ISP build outs, but at least they are investing in their infrastructure vice forcing private companies to open their cable plants. That's just it the big Telecoms..Like Verizon are SUBSIDIZED by GOVERNMENT and have EXCLUSIVE access to politicians with BILLION DOLLAR LOBBIES...They are a CANCER..rub that
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»davescustompc.com |
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openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
·AT&T Southeast
| Thanks for the mature response 
I assume you're bringing up the USF when discussing government subsidization? The USF is in desperate need of overhaul...I don't think anyone will dispute that.
Exclusive access to politicians? Hardly.... |
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Hangmn
Don't Fight It...It's Inevitable
Premium
join:2000-04-08
Philadelphia, PA
| said by openbox9 :Thanks for the mature response I assume you're bringing up the USF when discussing government subsidization? The USF is in desperate need of overhaul...I don't think anyone will dispute that. Exclusive access to politicians? Hardly.... What about the BILLIONS in Tax Breaks Bell Atlantic (Verizon) recieved Pennsylvania to have a Fiber network deployed?
»www.newnetworks.com/PRpenn.htm
I know...it gets confusing sometimes with all the interwebz destroying youngsters attention span and all...
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»davescustompc.com |
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openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA | No confusion here youngin'. Yes, it's sad that PA's PUC didn't follow through on holding VZ's feet to the fire. |
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