Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!ukma!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!agate!telecom-request From: sbrack@hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu (Steven S. Brack) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Why Telco Should be Permitted to Maintain Monopoly Message-ID: Date: 11 Mar 91 18:28:30 GMT Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Organization: The Ohio State University Lines: 50 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 198, Message 8 of 9 In article rhc@agate.berkeley.edu writes: => How about fault tolerance? => With all facilities under one manangment, reconfiguration to => compensate for malfunction, disaster, or traffic overload could be => swifter/easier. If more than one independent telephone network served the same area, would that not provide the same, if not a greater, degree of redundancy? => It's just a precautionary measure; It has nothing to do with => democracy. Independent networks would preserve democracy and capitalism, while at the same time increasing equipment duplication, and hence system resiliance. => [Moderator's Note: I generally agree with you; but I think where a lot => of the readers here would disagree is because of Telco's attitudes in => the past. They would probably say *if* telco was run in a fair and => impartial way; and *if* the utility at all times dedicated itself only => to the good of its customers; and *if* Telco was a bit quicker to make => new innovations available to all customers; and *if* telco was more => responsive to customer concerns, etc. -- then the monopoly status => would probably be okay. There are also some who oppose the telco monopoly because monopolies, by definition, deny competition. It has proved an impossible task to hold the reins on large monopoly industries, such as utilities, as their power is absolute. Most PUC decisions are made in favor of the utilities, not the consumer. Competition reduces prices, & helps to ensure a higher quality of service. => But because there have been so many instances => where Telco has offended a large number of customers in one way or => another, people would now rather see competition, even if competition => at times causes some inconvenience. I'm not sure I agree. I'd rather => see the monopoly continue with very tight reins kept on Telco. PAT] While I concur with Pat's reasoning, his conclusion that it would be better to see the monopoly continue is puzzling. What demonstrable benefit is there in a regulated monopoly, vs. the open market? Steven S. Brack sbrack@hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu sbrack@ewf.eng.ohio-state.edu (Avoid sending here, if possible)