----- Original Message ----- > From: "Leo Bicknell" <bickn...@ufp.org>
> After looking at many models I think Australia might be on to > something. The model is that a quasi-government monopoly provides > the last mile physical wire, but is unable to sell services on it. > Basically they only provide UNE's. Then, at the switching center > any ISP can pick up those UNE's and provide services. Competition > to the end user, while the last mile is always a single povider > limiting the issues above. Many cities are trying the same with > electric service, one companie provides the transport infrastructure > and when you select a generation provider. That's what I've been advocating, what Verizon *really* *REALLY* doesn't want to happen (to the point that they've been agitating -- successfully in some cases -- for state laws to forbid it), and what I think, based on not a lot of evidence, Google is quietly encouraging with their Big Secret Project. Last mile fiber *really is* a Natural Monopoly. And yeah, that's roughly how power competition was handled as well. Cheers, -- jra