Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!netsys!vector!telecom-gateway From: rdr@killer.dallas.tx.us (Dean Riddlebarger) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Divestiture, Business and the General Public Message-ID: Date: 14 Jun 89 13:00:00 GMT Sender: news@vector.Dallas.TX.US Lines: 43 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 199, message 1 of 8 Patrick and I have just had a small discussion about the overall direction and tone of the messages in the telecom newsgroup. Some of you may have seen some of the newsgroup messages about this [i.e. a reader asked whether or not the newsgroup/digest could deal with technical *and* subjective matter, I noted that most of the talk leans towards the technical, some other corporate flame wars flared up, etc. etc.]. Well, whatever our views on the theme of the messages, we did decide that it might be fun to throw some subjective topics into the fray. So....... I would argue that, since divestiture, the general public has been increasingly alienated by the telecom situation in this country. Many analyses of the telecom market suggest that, while LD competition has brought some degree of cost savings and service flexibility to the average resident, this has been offset and perhaps overridden by cost increases on the local side. It would seem that only large businesses have been able to gain true functional benefits while reducing all average costs for service. The debate questions, then, become: [1] Do readers on the net agree with this assessment? If so, why? If not, why? [2] Is this assessment generally true today, but likely to be nullified as more time passes? Has five years simply been too short a time to see all of the benefits? [3] Could we have done it better and/or differently right from the start? [4] Could we modify the process now in order to once again favor the average resident? Would we want to? I trust that this topic is somewhat relevant, and further that it is structured so flame-oriented opinions on various companies can be avoided. Have fun! I look forward to seeing responses...... Dean "There will be a quiz Friday" Riddlebarger Systems Consultant - AT&T [216] 348-6863 uucp: att!crfax!crnsnwbt!rdr Disclaimer: When pressed, my employer's Business Plan is Gospel.....:-)