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One estimate of over $200 Billion has gone in extra payments and fee allowances to telecoms. In Pennsylvania, Verizon et al. were given billions of extra fees,
by patrickgzill 17y ago
One estimate of over $200 Billion has gone in extra payments and fee allowances to telecoms.
In Pennsylvania, Verizon et al. were given billions of extra fees, in return they were to provide high speed broadband of T1 speed or better. They took the fees, but did not deliver the broadband; later it was found that due to the way the law was worded, no penalty for non-performance could be applied.
IMHO, the ONLY thing that telecoms understand is force or the threat of force. Get serious about opening up rights of way that the state government already has, to all comers, and they will act quickly to drop prices and improve service.
- pasbesoin 17y agoSimilar problems in Illinois, particularly with regard to SBC, now AT&T (SBC bought the hollowed shell of AT&T, many people believe largely for the name/brand identity). Oh, and, in response to another commentor on this thread with regard to lobbying influence, it's worth thinking for a few minutes about who in DC is from / has ties to Illinois. Telecom has a lot of clout in Illinois; the SBC, now AT&T, corporate headquarters is located in the Chicago suburbs.
- thewiglaf 17y agoNo kidding. Apparently getting your city to build its own fiber network is a sure fire way to get a telecom off its ass, as demonstrated by a Minnesota suburb: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=907617 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=907617