On Mon, 7 Nov 2005, Charles Wu wrote: >Electricity, Gas and Water are billed on a usage basis > >Competitive market pressures aside, why should Internet be any >different?
Charles, I don't often find myself in total disagreement with your statements. I am on this point, however. Well, maybe not "total", but close. The RBOCs and cableops are working hard to commoditize the internet connection. There are efforts on the part of many municipalities to do the same. Your city is doing this now. I am not sure there is anything we can do to "sway the tide" that seems to be driven partly by the RBOCs and others, but I don't agree that internet access fits the same "class" of service as the utilities you mentioned. For example, electricity, gas and water are items that are needed for basic survival in the city. Granted, these services have not always been available, but it is expected by all Americans that if they move somewhere, they can get those services. Most people would not survive without these services. Tell me how internet access fits that description. Internet access is something that is NOT required for basic necessities. It IS something that most businesses can't do without. With that in mind, why do you compare it to these other utilities? I will do ok if the internet access business dries up. I provide other services that don't require me to even sell internet access. These services work over any high speed connection. One business feeds the other. NOW, to answer your original question: I think the question is framed wrong. I don't see us EVER getting to the point where we, the network operator, will be paying for transports with "origination fees" or "termination fees", as the telcos are doing now. Perhaps I missed the point of this conversation, as I have not read all the posts, but I just don't believe it will ever get there. -- Butch Evans BPS Networks http://www.bpsnetworks.com/ Bernie, MO Mikrotik Certified Consultant (http://www.mikrotik.com/consultants.html) -- WISPA Wireless List: [email protected] Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
