🚀 go-pugleaf

[POSTED AFTER PROLONGED ABSENCE TO ba.internet]
organizer@fasternet.org (CyberOrganizer) wrote:

>Although the popularity of the Internet is growing, the networks that
>make up the Internet are not.  As a result, ever-increasing amounts of
>data are being forced through existing Internet networks, many of
>which are already stretched to capacity.  When that happens, a
>horrendous data bottleneck that slows transmission speeds and lowers
>the quality of Internet connections occurs.

This simply isn't true.  The bulk of Internet traffic is carried over
backbone networks that are constantly being expanded and upgraded to meet
the demand for traffic.  The bottlenecks are only in a few places where
current interconnection technology is being stretched (e.g., MAE-West),
but these congested interconnection points can be avoided with peering.
This is also a function of economics and ethics -- many ISP's oversell
their low-priced local service networks, the primary cause of Internet
performance problems.  (Next in importance is overloading of remote
servers.  Backbone issues are way down the list.)

>Local telecommunications companies already have the technology to help
>end this world wide wait.  They can deliver high-speed Internet access
>through the same phone lines that bring you your telephone service,
>and stand ready to invest millions in expanding the backbone of the
>Internet to improve transmission speeds.

In other words, this is about DSL, and wanting to get into the lucrative
backbone (long haul) business.  What a surprise.  <yawn>

>Unfortunately, the Federal
>Communications Commission (FCC) is using outdated regulations to keep
>local telephone companies out of the high-speed Internet access
>market, leaving it under the control of cable companies and other
>telecommunications giants.  Those outdated FCC policies are slowing
>down the growth of the Internet and preventing consumers from having a
>meaningful choice of high-speed Internet access providers, and that's
>not fair.

In a word, baloney.

There is no credible evidence that the growth of the Internet is being
slowed down, and consumers already have meaningful choices for high-speed
Internet access, including satellite, cable, and wireless.  They would
also have ISDN, frame relay, and (fractional) T-1 except for the fact that
these services have been priced out of the consumer market due to the
determination of local telcos to protect monopoly profits from these
wildly overpriced services.  (If you really think that local telcos are
being blocked from "more affordable" pricing then I'd like to talk to you
about a bridge that's for sale.)

The FCC is only trying to ensure that competition will exist for local
services as well as long distance services.  The problem is that the local
telcos have done their best to thwart the will of Congress and the FCC by
using every imaginable tactic to stall competition for local service --
they want to have their cake (enter lucrative long distance markets) and
to eat it too (preserve lucrative local monopolies).  If instead local
telcos were to facilitate local competition in good faith, then they would
be allowed to offer other services.

>We need your help to tell Congress to remove these regulations from
>the Internet and give net users a real choice between high-speed
>Internet access providers!  ...

What local telcos are hoping is that the American public will be dumb
enough to swallow being ripped off in order to get DSL service.  The
proper response is the same one you use when a telemarketer calls right at
dinner time.  Just hang up the phone.

-- 
Best regards,
John  mailto:jnavas@aimnet.com  http://www.aimnet.com/~jnavas/
      MAX SPEED:  http://www.aimnet.com/~jnavas/tech/cable_dsl_speed.htm