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.)