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Regardless of your opinion on the leaks, this marks something really interesting in the course of history. Communications is one of the few services that gover

Regardless of your opinion on the leaks, this marks something really interesting in the course of history. Communications is one of the few services that governments co-opt indirectly. Lockheed Martin knows it's building war jets. But here, the signatories didn't set out to build government surveillance engines, it was required of them after it became clear how useful they could be. Their response could set the tone for future actions in years to come. It's interesting that other communications groups (e.g. cellphone co's) have not reacted in the same way, Qwest aside. You don't have to believe that each CEO is doing this on principle if you're cynically inclined, but it seems clear at least that many of their employees are in favor of it. I'm curious if it's a internet/tech/silicon valley thing, or something else.

adventured 13y ago
It's pretty clear why companies like Verizon and AT&T will never stand up and put their names on a list like this. Verizon and AT&T are a government regulated duopoly, and they love the protection racket that keeps competition out. They're one step away from being state enterprises. Those closest to being utilities are the last entities that will want to push back against the government (eg Level3). They're the most dependent on government mood swings. These types of companies often require government permission for every action they take in terms of expanding their business.
- rayiner 13y ago
  > Verizon and AT&T are a government regulated duopoly, and they love the protection racket that keeps competition out. Verizon and AT&T are government regulated, and they are a duopoly, but its not regulation that keeps competition out. The natural state of communications networks are to converge on a state of monopoly. There is infinite economics of scale in telecom, and a "winner takes all" return on capital investment. Government regulation is the only thing keeping the industry from consolidating to one carrier even faster than it's already doing.
rmc 13y ago
I'm curious if it's a internet/tech/silicon valley thing, or something else. One theory: Most of the telecos are mostly USA based companies, where as Google/Facebook/Twitter/Microsoft/Apple/Yahoo have a large amount of customers/business outside the USA. So to some people outside the USA, it becomes "Don't use Google/Microsoft, the US Government can see what you do", which is different from US customers thinking "If you use this teleco, then your government can see what you do."

adventured 13y ago

It's pretty clear why companies like Verizon and AT&T will never stand up and put their names on a list like this. Verizon and AT&T are a government regulated duopoly, and they love the protection racket that keeps competition out. They're one step away from being state enterprises. Those closest to being utilities are the last entities that will want to push back against the government (eg Level3). They're the most dependent on government mood swings. These types of companies often require government permission for every action they take in terms of expanding their business.

rayiner 13y ago
> Verizon and AT&T are a government regulated duopoly, and they love the protection racket that keeps competition out. Verizon and AT&T are government regulated, and they are a duopoly, but its not regulation that keeps competition out. The natural state of communications networks are to converge on a state of monopoly. There is infinite economics of scale in telecom, and a "winner takes all" return on capital investment. Government regulation is the only thing keeping the industry from consolidating to one carrier even faster than it's already doing.

rmc 13y ago

I'm curious if it's a internet/tech/silicon valley thing, or something else. One theory: Most of the telecos are mostly USA based companies, where as Google/Facebook/Twitter/Microsoft/Apple/Yahoo have a large amount of customers/business outside the USA. So to some people outside the USA, it becomes "Don't use Google/Microsoft, the US Government can see what you do", which is different from US customers thinking "If you use this teleco, then your government can see what you do."