🚀 go-pugleaf

Craig Nordin wrote:
> 
> Remember how the phone companies tried to kidnap the term
> "Information Superhighway" when they wanted to sell
> Video-On-Demand?  Well, you are seeing another attempt
> to spin/bamboozle with the "Internet causes phone congestion".
> 
> These trends have been visible for some time.  The phone company
> is well aware of the capacity of each switch.  But what is
> the rhetorical value of millions of people running into an
> "all circuits are busy" message or a "fast busy" signal?  I
> can tell you that the rhetorical value is worth many millions.
> It is worth votes and support!
> 
> I'm reminded of that ruthless lawyer, in Philadelphia Story, who
> points to a blown-out tire on the carpet in his office and says:
> 
>   "You see that tire?  That tire is worth four million dollars!"
> 
> Bell Atlantic is working this angle as well as it can, but there
> are a number of consumer advocates that are working in the other
> direction.
> 
> Wherever a phone company can, it will install a meter onto your
> phone and charge you buy the second.   Even though over half of
> the payment you make on such a bill is spent counting and saving
> and printing and collecting such pennies and nickles.
> 
> The public, however, is not going to be interested in a solution
> that immediately causes the ISP/Online-Service costs to jump
> to near twice what they are now.  They would rather hear that
> the Phone company is a little tight and had to raise local phone
> charges by $1 per month.
> 
> What should the phone companies do?  Restructure their provisioning
> of phone circuits and learn to put in a phone switch for 1/2 the
> current cost.
> I agree with you, Craig. The only problem is -- I've been getting
the "circuits busy" crap here in the DC suburbs when I have called
a friend two blocks away!

I'm wondering if this could be done on purpose -- just an excuse
to throw everyone into a panic -- and justify raising the rates!

(Ken)


-- 
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"Hungry men and women cannot wait for economic discussions or
 diplomatic meetings -- and their hunger rests heavily on the
 consciences of their fellow men."

			President John F. Kennedy