From: "Robert J. Berger" <rberger@xxxxxxx>
Date: September 13, 2004 1:33:30 PM PDT
To: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Dewayne-Net] Public Fiber Tough to Swallow
Why don't think tanks and corporations get upset that Municipalities
own and
operate roads, sewers and water supplies? Why is fiber any different
than
those?
The main issue that should be focused on is that Municipalities should
only
do "Layer 1" the conduit, dark fiber, maybe wireless transport where
fiber
is not appropriate (i.e. rural). They should then offer open access at
cost
plus rates to anyone who wants to offer SERVICES over the fiber. Thus
there
can be a free market of SERVICES and a publicly subsidized physical
TRANSPORT infrastructure that is for the public good and can not
really be
paid for by traditional corporate return on investment or short term
profit
goals.
Show me one infrastructure company that generated a return on
investment
(not just cash flow and debt maintenance) from said infrastructure
that was
subsidized by being a regulated monopoly or having its infrastructure
capital costs wiped out by bankruptcy.
I do agree that Municipalities should not be offering services over the
fiber, but it makes great sense for the municipality to own and operate
TRANSPORT infrastructure.
The key failure of US regulations is to enforce the seperation of
TRANSPORT
from SERVICE.
On 9/13/04 10:34 AM, "Dewayne Hendricks" <dewayne@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
[Note: If the cable and telcos feel threatened by the rollout of
public fiber, then they're going to go absolutely nuts over the rapid
growth in public wireless! DLH]
Public Fiber Tough to Swallow
By John Gartner
Story location:
<http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,64902,00.html>