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Supreme Court To Revisit 1996 Telecom Act This Term
Masem writes "In addition to the cases of online adult material mentioned yesterday, the Supreme Court is slated to hear several cases regarding the failure of the 1996 Telecommunications Bill and it's affect on the current market, as summarized by NYTimes (Free Reg Req). Namely, 10 high profile cases that were in the federal circuits are being condensed into 3 specific cases that the court will hear separately. The first is dealing with rates and fees the local bell can incur on competing services (including alternate carriers and DSL CLECs) that use their equipment. The second is whether there still exists differences between the concept of common carrier between phone and cable services since the types of service that both are providing are quickly merging. The third is in regard to the ability for the federal system to overrule state utility boards in their decison and penalty of telecom companies."
I just hope that they reign in Ashcroft's demands some. I don't mind the governmnet trying to protect it's people, but I do not what to lose my civil liberties...I get the feeling Ashcroft would like to subject every American to full cavitity searches twice a day.
Something about him bugs me.
"To give up liberty for security, you will end up with neither." - (I get conflicting stories on who said this...but whoever it was I give you the credit.)
Sean D.
"Hmm. I am to metaphor cheese as metaphor cheese is to transitive verb crackers!"
One of the most irratating things of dealing with the Bells is their refusal to delivery service within a decent amount of time. For example, ordering DSL from a competitor that uses a Bells' local loop will take sometimes three weeks or longer, but ordering DSL directly from the Bells' you can easily have the connection up and running within a week. The Bells' intentionally delay delivery of local loop and repairs to competitors using their lines. Unless this is addressed, no matter what deregulation or fines are imposed, Bells' will continue to have control of the market and the uncontrolled ability to put competitors out of business.