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openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
 ·AT&T Southeast
| reply to KrK
Re: Cue the "USA Sucks" Whining!
It's all relative. Personally, I'm more than happy to make the money I make, pay the taxes that I pay, have the cost of living that I have, and pay the money that I do for the services that I get rather than live in France and all of the things that are inherent with doing so. I've lived in Europe before and have a very good friend who was born and raised in France (who's chosen to be a US citizen over a French citizen) and I'll choose the US every time. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of awesome countries with incredible history, they just can't compete with quality of life and cost of living, IMO. | |
KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | Amazing how these threads go. It's not about having to live like the French to get the deal. It's just an example of what we COULD have here, if we didn't allow it to be bolluxed up so badly. | |
openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
·AT&T Southeast
| But it is about having to live like the French, because you don't get to have your cake and eat it too. I would love to have everything that I have now and pay a 1/3 of the cost for my televion, ISP, and voice, but that's not the world we live in. If somebody comes up with a plan to make that a reality, then I'm all for it. | |
KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
·AT&T Yahoo
·AT&T DSL Service
 ·Cox HSI
1 edit | The idea is competition. The French encouraged and the Government backed up local loop unbundling which opened the door for competition. That competition was originally riding the existing Telco lines, but as they got their footing, they began building out their own networks and fiber and now you have the result --- modern, competing telecommunications services resulting in more options and lower prices.
WE were OH so close here.... We started down that path... and providers were starting to buildout their own networks... but our Government backed off protecting the fledglings from the ravages of the ILEC's and gave up on local loop unbundling-- that, combined with the dot com crash, and boom all the startups (A few barely hanging on, IE Covad) went under, and we reap the rewards today-- only a few choices, no options, and high prices.
It's sad. With just a little more leadership from the Administration and the FCC we'd be right where the French are now-- hell, we'd be better off, IMHO because we started first and because we have many content producers here.
Oh so close... but we dropped the ball.
We could have it, down the road, but it requires action and leadership now.... and it would require forcing the existing players, at least for a time, to allow access to their networks... and you know they'd fight that every step of the way... but if the Government or FCC held firm, down the road, say 10 years, the payoff would be clear--- competition. Choices. State of the art networks. Sadly, I think it's very unlikely to happen... no matter which party is in control. | |
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