[9769] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: More on Telco
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Marvin Sirbu)
Fri Jan 21 01:03:37 1994
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 1994 18:13:44 -0500 (EST)
From: Marvin Sirbu <ms6b+@andrew.cmu.edu>
To: com-priv@psi.com, Pres Smith <PGSMITH@ucsvax.ucs.umass.edu>
In-Reply-To: <01H7W9EO1XYQ8Y8IGQ@phobos.ucs.umass.edu>
Excerpts from internet.com-priv: 20-Jan-94 Re: More on Telco by Pres
Smith@ucsvax.ucs.um
> I happen to be in favor of attempts at "universal access", preferably
> as in the USPS, and subsidized by the general taxpayer.
I sure don't want it as in the USPS. First, USPS breaks even from its
rates. The only money it gets from the taxpayer pays for mail sent by
government agencies and Congress.
Second, USPS keeps rates low by rate-averaging between high cost (rural
Alaska) and low cost, (urban) areas, charging a uniform price for a
stamp.
Third, the way it manages to keep competitors from competing in urban
areas-- which are clearly over priced--is by making competition illegal
(The Private Express Statutes).
I do not want telephone competition to be illegal (recreate the AT&T
monopoly!?!). Rate averaging is incompatible with competition.
Achieving Universal Service does not require us to outlaw competition,
or try to impose rate averaging, which as noted above, is incompatible
with competition.
Marvin Sirbu
