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From: cyberoid@milton.u.washington.edu (Robert Jacobson)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Local Competition - "Bypass Service"
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Date: 8 Mar 91 06:54:14 GMT
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Fans of competitive local telephone service should beware the example
of British Telecom, which used the existence of the incipient but
never seriously competitive Mercury Telecom as the rationale for its
total deregulation (or nearly so).  Mercury, with all its hype and
smoke and mirrors, provided just the excuse BT needed.  Now Britain
has a monopoly with power to set its own rates, offer service at its
discretion, and generally set telecom policy for the entire nation.
When pressed on its often criticized performance, BT answers, "For the
disgruntled, there's always Mercury.  (Hah-hah.)"


Bob Jacobson