Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!att!dptg!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!newstop!texsun!texbell!vector!telecom-gateway
From: asuvax!gtephx!ellisond@ncar.ucar.edu (Dell Ellison)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: LEC Monopoly and Cable TV
Message-ID: 
Date: 9 Aug 89 03:25:07 GMT
Sender: news@vector.Dallas.TX.US
Organization: AG Communication Systems, Phoenix, Arizona
Lines: 34
Approved: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us
X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 281, message 3 of 10

In article , jackson@ttidca.tti.com
(Dick Jackson) writes:
> Is anyone else in this group interested in the *future* of the telephone
> system?  There are lots of topics that might be discussed, but just to test
> the waters let me try just one -- the continued monopoly of the LECs for
> basic plant and services.

> An example of the LEC's bid for more revenue is their request to be
> allowed to operate cable TV, i.e. to deliver entertainment to the home.
> In my, opinion to permit this at the present time would be ludicrous given
> the operating companies non-clean record on cross subsidies and trampling
> on smaller companies they perceive as competitors.

> [Moderator's Note: I am not quite clear on your use of the abbreviation
> 'LEC'. Would you explain the abbreviation, please? But to provide one opinion
> to your question, I think the telcos should stay in the phone business
> and out of the cable TV business.  Let's see what others here think.  PT]

Actually, I would like to see the phone company provide cable TV, etc...
Because:

   1.  The Cable TV companies in many cases are 'trampling' on the
       consumers, because they have no competition (many times) in
       a particular area.  Many times they have little selection,
       poor service and high prices.  This solution would provide
       some competition for them.

   2.  I am very much in favor in the development of new technologies
       and higher efficiency.  This would be a much more efficient
       and feature-rich system.  (Not to mention the great benefits
       of direct digital connections to our home computers.)

I would like to see this happen.  (This would also bring picture
phones a lot closer to reality.)