ok, ignoring the absolutely massive infrastructure issues relating to DSL (inter- Central Office card theft is happening), here's the deal:
The self-install kit is the wave of the future, because the technician-install, from the Telco's perspective, is a total loss. The $99 tech install is basically equal to the loaded labor rate for the tech. And then touching the customers PC opens up a whole new arena of liability issues; when Joe Luser gets his $4k Gateway box to play solitaire and look at pr0n, and then subsequent to a tech performing some DSL voodoo under the hood, goes and fiddles and blows up WinDoze, guess who gets blamed?
Add to that the fact that most techs who are savants w/transmission equipment are idiots on the PC end, making a legit tech-induced comp.snafu more likely, and you understand why the Telcos don't want techs any closer to the customer than the local b-box.
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ok, ignoring the absolutely massive infrastructure issues relating to DSL (inter- Central Office card theft is happening), here's the deal:
The self-install kit is the wave of the future, because the technician-install, from the Telco's perspective, is a total loss. The $99 tech install is basically equal to the loaded labor rate for the tech. And then touching the customers PC opens up a whole new arena of liability issues; when Joe Luser gets his $4k Gateway box to play solitaire and look at pr0n, and then subsequent to a tech performing some DSL voodoo under the hood, goes and fiddles and blows up WinDoze, guess who gets blamed?
Add to that the fact that most techs who are savants w/transmission equipment are idiots on the PC end, making a legit tech-induced comp.snafu more likely, and you understand why the Telcos don't want techs any closer to the customer than the local b-box.