Path: utzoo!mnetor!tmsoft!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!pacbell.com!ucsd!casbah.acns.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: john@zygot.ati.com (John Higdon) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: "Independent" Coin Phones Message-ID: Date: 17 Feb 91 00:00:00 GMT Sender: news@casbah.acns.nwu.edu Reply-To: John Higdon Organization: Green Hills and Cows Lines: 43 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 124, Message 5 of 8 "Kevin P. Kleinfelter" writes: > In the early days of telecom, you could get any service you wanted, as > long as you wanted a service provided by Ma Bell. If you didn't like > it, you could do without. The moment you introduce choices and competition, actually creating a marketplace, there is necessity for all (especially customers) to become informed and active in the commerce. While it is regrettable that the Aunt Millies of the world are forced to participate in a game not of their choosing, restricting the rest of us to Hobsen's choices is hardly fair either. Before divestiture, the regulators (the gummit) took care of us. There was no problem selecting carriers, services, or equipment. If we did not like what was offered, if it cost too much, or the service was not what was expected, it was very simple: we did without. Now we can select anything we want from whatever is available, from excellent to very poor. Granted, what we used to have was frequently better than the worst of what is available today, but today's best is better than ever. But we are, as a result, all thrust into the game of choices. We cannot just sit back and let "the telephone company" do it to us any longer. As Mr. Kleinfelter points out, no one seems to advocate the abolition of a free marketplace because he made a mistake purchasing a car or TV set. But listen to the cries of doom when a COCOT rips off someone for a few extra bucks on a long distance call. "It is all Judge Greene's fault." Baloney! If the public does not like COCOTs, it will not use them and they will go away. If the public is too stupid to know the difference, then it gets what it deserves. I refuse the have Big Brother take care of me because there are some among us who are too lazy to take care of themselves. I am a fan of divestiture. My only complaint is that the Judge stopped short of the ideal: competition in the LEC marketplace. Believe me, if such a thing existed now, my home phone would not be served by a 1948 crossbar switch. John Higdon | P. O. Box 7648 | +1 408 723 1395 john@zygot.ati.com | San Jose, CA 95150 | M o o !