Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!lll-winken!telecom-request From: kabra437@pallas.athenanet.com (Ken Abrams) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Cable TV vs Telco Connectivity Laws Message-ID: Date: 30 Mar 91 19:38:56 GMT Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Organization: Athenanet, Inc., Springfield, Illinois Lines: 39 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 256, Message 10 of 10 In article barefoot@garfield.catt. ncsu.edu (Heath Roberts) writes: >> My view is that the cable "service" should be provided to a single >> point within any home at a standard signal level and then any further >> distribution within the home should be left to the homeowner. [If the owner so desires.] > The ideal solution is to have everyone pay based on the number of > hours they "consume" and the relative cost to the supplier (home ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ These are the right words, now if we can just put them into the proper perspective ... I supplied ALL the hardware to extend my cable service throughout my house. The cost to the cable company to provide my service is not one cent higher if I watch a thousand hours a month than it is if I watch one hour. It is not one cent higher if five members on my family watch five different sets than it is if nobody watches anything. I expect to pay the cable company a fair price for the service that they provide, including a reasonable rate of profit. I do NOT expect to pay extra for things that do not cost the supplier any extra. This is predatory pricing based on their monopoly position. The price I pay for electricity is not related to the number of outlets that I have, the price I pay for water is not related to the number of faucets and the sewer fees I pay is not related to the number of drains and toilets that I have connected. Cable rates should not be based on the number of outlets either unless the building owner has ASKED the cable company to install and maintain the wiring. Ken Abrams uunet!pallas!kabra437 Illinois Bell kabra437@athenanet.com Springfield (voice) 217-753-7965