[10361] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Nelson's comment on Telecom
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Joseph W. Stroup)
Sat Feb 19 12:20:13 1994
From: "Joseph W. Stroup" <nettech@crl.com>
To: com-priv@psi.com
Date: Sat, 19 Feb 1994 09:25:30 -0800 (PST)
I noticed that Mr. Nelson made a comment on the telecom de-reg. thing.
There are a number of reasons why this should NEVER happen and it all
starts with the dial tone. U.S. West generally tries to do an end run
around the PUC in Minn. If they get away with it there then they try
it somewhere else. Several of the RBOC's are being sued right now and
Southwestern Bell is at the top of the list. What these companies want
to do is to operate in the Real Estate Market , Cell phone business etc
and get away from dealing with the public as much as they can. Anyone
who thinks AT&T did not want or was not well prepared for the breakup
is a fool. The phone companies have been trying to get away from State
regulation for years. Its the last hope for customers rates to stay low.
In this new era of video on demand alot of money will be made by a very
few people - When the big boys lose their ass, its we the rate payers
who will be required to make up the short fall. It happened in the Nuke
business with power companies and it will happen in the phone business.
And by the time it does, those that caused it will be long gone.
I have no problem with new technology, new adventures, new markets. I
don't like it when the public is sold , by the media & the government
in to the idea that we have equipment like that seen on "Tek Wars, Star
Trek etc" available at a low cost and now.
I object to my tax dollars being spent by people who are allowed to exist
under the scheme of "plenty of Anonymity with No Accountability". Thats
exactly what has happend with the NSF award on the vBNS. The President and
the Vice President have sent a very clear message to the American "BIG"
businessman - Hello ! Welcome to the Whitehouse - we are open for business.
Forget anti-trust, forget all the rules, just stop by and see us , we will
make it all right. Thats how Clinton intends to stay in office.
I like many others want access to the proposals made to the National Science
Foundation. If it takes a court to get them , great. The IG at the NSF is
there to protect the interest of the NSF and NOT the public at large. Its
time to find a Federal Judge willing to issue on this matter and take a
serious look at it. Again, I am not just making statements that there were
improper deals to get attention. Gee, maybe I know something that the rest
of you do not. You would be surprised how many people in public places pay
close attention to what is said over dinner etc. There are too many players
here to keep all the lies straight. Its amazing how little cash is involved
in the Whitewater deal and how much is involved here. Like I said before,
its only a problem when you steal it from the gov't, not when they give it
away - .
Joseph Stroup
