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FCC Rules Telcos Need Not Provide Naked DSL
Devistater writes "Despite at least four states' laws to the contrary, the FCC has ruled that phone companies need not provide naked DSL service to customers, but can require bundling; for example: Voice and DSL.
FCC Commisioners Copps and Adelstein say in dissent 'In this decision, the Commission unwisely flashes the green light for broadband tying arrangements.' 'If it is [ok] to deny consumers DSL if they do not [have] analog voice service, what stops a carrier from denying broadband service to an end-user who has cut the cord and uses only a wireless phone? What prevents a carrier from refusing to provide DSL service to a savvy consumer who wants stand-alone broadband only for VoIP?'"
I'm tired of getting screwed over by this administration. But I guess they don't worry about DSL and phone service in the red states. Cutting funding for DARPA research yesterday, now phone companies can refuse DSL service unless you have their analog phone service. What's next? I almost hope Bush gets his SS reform though congress b/c the way seniors vote, we'll have Dems in the white house and a majority of congress in two years flat.
"Those that start by burning books, will end by burning men."
What stops 7-Eleven from denying you a coffee unless you also pay for the cup? What stops a liquor store from denying you 750ml of Vodka unless you also buy the bottle that it's in? What stops a computer company from denying you a computer unless you also buy an operating system? What stops an operating system company from denying you an operating system unless you also buy the web browser, media player, and solitaire game? What stops a magazine company from denying you a magazine unless you also buy the ads it contains? What stops a printer company from denying you the use of your printer unless you buy ink cartridges?
Why should any business be forced to sell something separately that essentially needs to come in the same package, or at least be used together? The DSL needs to go over the same physical wire that the landline requires. If you don't have a landline, and don't pay for landline service, why the heck should any telephone company be forced to provide DSL over that line?
Business should be free to offer whatever the heck it wants. Consumers should be free to buy whatever the heck they want. Telephone companies have a monopoly over a particular area? In a particular area, if the cable company delivers something better, faster, and cheaper than the telephone company, then the telephone company will ultimately lose revenue, which will stimulate an improvement in the telephone company. Or get broadband through your cellphone carrier. It's not quite as fast as DSL, and not quite as cheap, but it's an alternative choice, if that's what you want.
Fine, thanks for asking!