Paul Lussier said:
>>> how to get Verizon or AT&T to get off their collective behinds Frankly, I think getting Verizon to do anything will be extremely difficult. They are losing billions of dollars per year, according to their public statements, and my SWAG is they're not going to be interested in investing in expensive technologies for a limited market. (I know where Paul lives, and his town's not much bigger than mine, and the issues are similar). My opinion is that the reason they are losing billions on paper is that they overbid on the last round of wireless telephone spectra and have a bit of a supply-and-demand issue there to be resolved. They aren't interested in ugrading last-mile infrastructure if they aren't pressured hard to do so. AT&T, on the other hand, is under a lot of public scrutiny because of all of the cable systems they now own, the high demand for broadband services at the retail (i.e., Harry Homeowner) level, and pressure from local regulatory agencies - i.e., State PUCs *AND* town governments. Cable TV franchises are generally (at least here in New England) awarded on a _municipal_ level. So, if there are a lot of technically-knowledgeable residents in a given town who want broadband and can't seem to get it, putting pressure on the Board of Selectmen, City Council, etc., does get results. It took a few years, but I raised hell with my town government because the previous cable company (long since bought out) didn't want to cable my road because it was too far out in the boonies, even though I was about the only house among the 40-50 on the road who could get a signal off the air! If your town's cable plant is still aluminum-jacketed coax instead of the newer stuff, perhaps you need to start asking a lot of questions as to _when_, not _if_, they will be upgrading to broadband! Bayard ***************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the text 'unsubscribe gnhlug' in the message body. *****************************************************************
