[9669] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: Telecommunications Competition Act of Washington State
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Bruce Gingery)
Sun Jan 16 00:41:12 1994
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 1994 22:28:52 -0700 (MST)
From: Bruce Gingery <lcbginge@antelope.wcc.edu>
To: adam fast <adamfast@u.washington.edu>
Cc: Chip Morningstar -- Software Without Moving Parts <grand-central!amix!chip@beaver.cs.washington.edu>,
In-Reply-To: <Pine.3.89.9401150925.H2734-0100000@goren1.u.washington.edu>
On Sat, 15 Jan 1994, adam fast wrote:
>
> On Fri, 14 Jan 1994, Chip Morningstar -- Software Without Moving Parts wrote:
>
> [about the Telecommunications Competition Act]
>
> > This is the sort of well intentioned meddling that I have been fearing would
> > eventually come of all this NII/Datahighway/Open Platform stuff, and now we are
> > seeing it. In fact, I think this just part of the calm before the storm.
>
> all law making is "meddling."
"Ain't it the truth!" Still we seem to need SOME laws to mediate honest
differences and more imporantly, to mediate DISHONEST differences. Too bad
that at times they are used on the dishonest side of the latter version.
> all technology incurs social costs of some kinds, that is why we regulate
> technology. the assertion that the telecommunication industry should
> be exempt from social pressures because the market will achieve social
> good faster, better, and easier is an assertion that does not hold up
> under scrutiny.
Which certainly doesn't say that force of law is the only, or even the
best form of social pressure.
> why has the level of telephone service actually been /declining/ since the
> sixties? market forces are /not/ achieving universal service.
Really??? In the 1960's a significant portion of Wyoming was still
covered by 1930's technology REA telephone systems. Even the capitol city
had 5-digit local numbers on a step-by-step office. Today ESS driven
crossbar the last I knew -- fewer wrong numbers, Caller-ID and other so-called
advanced features.
Universal 911 service blankets all but tiny pockets of the country.
Long distance rates are lower in numbers and MUCH lower in real dollars.
> this bill is not directly about universal service, but my point is that a
> lot of social goals (whatever they are) cannot be met by the market alone.
> just as social goals cannot be met by legislation alone, or grassroots
> organizing alone.
The only reason I responded to begin with is that legislation can BLOCK
both innovation, and the small-businesses in which most of the innovation
orignates, through weighting even more to the "big boy" established
companies.
Yet you're in Washington, and I in Wyoming. What you do won't directly
affect me, though we are close both alphabetically and geographically. Do
what you will. I presumed that your posting was for commentary and
dialog, as opposed to edictive proclaimation.
Bruce Gingery lcbginge@antelope.wcc.edu
