🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <378e18a5.10403330@news.abs.net>, organizer@fasternet.org 
(CyberOrganizer) writes...
> 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.
> 
> 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.  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 Communications Commission (FCC) is using outdated regulations to keep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  Those outdated FCC policies are slowing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.
> 
> 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!  With just a few minutes and a few clicks
> of your mouse, you can send a FREE FAX to your members of Congress
> about this important issue from the FASTERnet.org web site at:
> 
> http://www.fasternet.org
> 
> While you are there, you can also learn more about the issue and
> sign-up to have future action alerts and news releases delivered right
> to your e-mail box!
> 
> Help us tell Congress that it's time to let consumers, not the
> government, make real choices between high-speed Internet access
> providers. Visit http://www.fasternet.org today!
> 
> Posted July 15, 1999
> Circulate and Redistribute through August 6, 1999
> 
> 
> +----------------------------+
> Tell Congress You Want a Faster Internet!
> Send a letter to your elected officials by visiting the FASTERnet.org web site at:
> 
> http://www.fasternet.org
> 



Ah, if it were so simple.

I wonder if those "outdated regulations" just happened to include
annoying little preconditions like making these telcos provide
equal access to local traditional telephone service competition 
before allowing them to get involved in DSL gravy.

If what people want is another Ma Bell to dictate prices and
service levels with no competition, then perhaps they should
go along with this.  

Who knows what the agenda is, but I suggest people look a
bit closer at who is funding and supporting this movement.
Maybe SBC/Pacbell is behind it.



-- 
Philip J. Koenig         The Electric Kahuna Organization          [see below]
-----------------Computers & Communications for the New Millenium-------------
* This message is spam-resistant.  To send email, use the following address  *
* by removing numbers and spaces:  pjkunet64 @  ekahuna27 . c o m            *
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* Simple answers are for simple minds.  Try a new way of looking at things.  *

In <MPG.11f7ef6e67abc377989ab7@news.walltech.com>,
   For_Email@ddress.see.below_plea.se (Philip J. Koenig) wrote:
:> http://www.fasternet.org
:> 
:Ah, if it were so simple.
:
:I wonder if those "outdated regulations" just happened to include
:annoying little preconditions like making these telcos provide
:equal access to local traditional telephone service competition 
:before allowing them to get involved in DSL gravy.
:
:If what people want is another Ma Bell to dictate prices and
:service levels with no competition, then perhaps they should
:go along with this.  
:
:Who knows what the agenda is, but I suggest people look a
:bit closer at who is funding and supporting this movement.
:Maybe SBC/Pacbell is behind it.

From a piece of their web page (which claims that this is a "Keep America
Connected Campaign"):

:Keep America Connected is a coalition of organizations representing 
:older Americans, people with disabilities, rural and inner city residents,
:people of color, low income citizens, labor and local phone companies
:working together to ensure affordable access to modern telecommunications
:for all Americans. 
:
:Members of Keep America Connected:

then follows a long list of organizations, none of which on the surface
appears to be a profit making corporation.
See http://fasternet.policy.net/about , which site the fasternet.org URL
redirects one to.

fasternet.org is registered to
Issue Dynamics (FASTERNET3-DOM)
   919 18th Street, 10th Floor
   Washington, DC 20005
responsible person:
      Deutsch, Ken  (KD858)  deutsch@IDI.NET

Policy.net is registered to
Policy Networks (POLICY-DOM)
   901 15th Street NW Suite 230
   Washington, DC 20005-2301

I have no idea who these people are or what they're about, but here it is if
it's helpful.  I also sense an agenda behind the original posting.

As posted by Joel Levin the information about the people behind fasternet.org
is Ken Deutsch and Issue Dynamics. Looking at the Issue Dynamics web page
you'll find that Atlantic Bell is one of their principal partners.

fasternet.org is registered to
Issue Dynamics (FASTERNET3-DOM)
   919 18th Street, 10th Floor
   Washington, DC 20005
responsible person:
      Deutsch, Ken  (KD858)  deutsch@IDI.NET

Policy.net is registered to
Policy Networks (POLICY-DOM)
   901 15th Street NW Suite 230
   Washington, DC 20005-2301

Gerry Wright
ZoneZebra Productions
San Francisco

>

[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