Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!ria!uwovax.uwo.ca!telecom-request From: motcid!linneweh@uunet.uu.net (Louis Linneweh) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Why Telco Should be Permitted to Maintain Monopoly Message-ID: Date: 15 Mar 91 19:45:20 GMT Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Div., Arlington Hgts, IL Lines: 27 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 207, Message 1 of 9 sbrack@hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu (Steven S. Brack) writes: > 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? In a word: standards. De facto, perhaps; obsolete, quite often; archaic occasionally; but usable standards none the less. For the public and even for telephony equipment suppliers. They just couldn't change the system fast enough toget a marketing advantage. Hmmmm. I used to know how to place a long distance call from a pay phone virtually anywhere in the country. I used to feel confident my kids could call me from those same phones. That is simply no longer true today. Sure, a lot of committees could set standards and a lot of laws could enforce them. But they don't and they are not effective. So far the basic telephones have remained compatible. At least I haven't called anyone I wasn't able to talk to and hear in return. But I worry about ISDN, Open Network Architecture, and the burgeoning features available. Will I always be able to talk to the person I called? OK, I'm exagerating, I suppose. None the less, I don't always know how to make a call from a pay phone anymore. That's a terrible step backward! That's my reason for supporting the regulated monopoly of the phone company.