[10676] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Hello Southwestern Bell ?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Joseph W. Stroup)
Sat Mar 5 01:32:31 1994
From: "Joseph W. Stroup" <nettech@crl.com>
To: com-priv@psi.com
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 1994 23:31:18 -0800 (PST)
At it again,,,,, Is Southwestern Bell's un-regulated business unit
under legal attack ? I love a spin off. Right now this little Baby
Bell is defending itself in a lawsuit over the activities of its one
un-regulated units. Now I see Ameritech in to the act - Gosh I wonder
why ? For years the RBOC's would not support the small network operator
with any type of price deals on 56k or higher circuits. Now they form
a group and try to tell us that they - the phone company has a real
interest in helping the community at large. Every RBOC spin-off thats
un-regulated should be sued. Heck for you lawyers it should be a clean
area to cherry pick.
My points: Whats telco policy on some of the following issues ?
1. Does the RBOC or even a small telco charge a deposit for a new
business customer with no telco credit history and in need of 50
or more lines ?
2. Did any RBOC spin-off / un-regulated unit ever pay such a deposit
and if so when and where, if not why not ?
3. Where does the profit from an un-regulated RBOC business end up ?
Does the profit from the un-regulated business go back to the main
corporation ?
4. If the RBOC spin-off / un-regulated business gets the startup cash
from the RBOC and the RBOC gets that cash from its customers, gee -
sounds like a conflict to me .
The RBOC's being allowed in the data business will probably happen sooner
than later. But, lets not let the BS us into thinking they are doing us
a favor. Bottom line they see big $$ and want their piece of the pie.
If you run a telco and are allowed to get around the situations I mention
above, then you are operating with an un-fair advantage. To me thats why
Southwestern Bell got sued.
Nice thing too, the law firm that did it has an excellent track history
of winning.
Joseph Stroup
