<RANT> Gee, now this (ESPN Live 360) won't make the Cable-Op internet providers have an unfair advantage over traditional ISPs!
You have to imagine that the cable-op's are negotiating this "internet service" into their network programming agreements with EPSN, whereas if you are a non-cable-op you will have to pay outright and separate for the service and then pass along that fee to all of your subscribers or more likely... eat the cost. This is another case where a utility is able to abuse its monopoly power to the disadvantage of a non-utility ISP. The regulated and non-regulated portions of a company that engages in internet service need to be forced to conduct business as arms-length transactions. For instance... if MegaCableCompany operates as a Cable TV provider and operates as an internet provider, the Cable TV provider business unit is regulated and enjoys an advantage as a utility, whereas the Internet Provider Business Unit is unregulated and operates in an open market. The Cable TV unit is free to negotiate terms for TV programming from the various networks. The Internet Unit is free to negotiate terms of service for internet related valued-added-services. Whereas, the Cable TV unit should not be permitted to negotiate terms for unrelated internet services. (i.e. ESPN Live 360). The CableTV unit as a utility providing TV service should have no interest in internet valued added services. However, in the alternative... if the Cable TV unit were permitted to negotiate terms for unrelated internet services, it should be prepared to offer those services to the open market at the same rate that it charges its own Internet Service Business Unit!! Of course.. this argument may sound familiar to some of you... I've made this same argument time and time again for the unbundling of network elements within the TelCo monopolies. If you sell phone service as a utility, your associated unregulated ISP business unit should not enjoy preferential pricing with regards to internet transport or internet termination. </RANT> Larry Yunker -----Original Message----- From: wireless-boun...@wispa.org [mailto:wireless-boun...@wispa.org] On Behalf Of RickG Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 1:57 PM To: WISPA General List Subject: [WISPA] here it come$ The television content providers are going to bill ISP's? Try using ESPN Live 360 and see what it tells you. -RickG ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- WISPA Wants You! Join today! http://signup.wispa.org/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wants You! Join today! http://signup.wispa.org/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
