[IP] more on labeling and NN
Begin forwarded message:
From: Rob Raisch <info@xxxxxxxxxx>
Date: June 20, 2006 7:16:32 PM EDT
To: dave@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [IP] more on labeling and NN
Dave,
Of course, defining "what the Internet is or must be" will open a
whole raft of other product definition issues, not the least of which
is our current, scabrous national definition of "broadband".
According to Teletruth, the New Networks Institute and others, the
broken promise of residential broadband is one of the largest
scandals ever perpetrated on the American public.
By falsely promoting a vision of ubiquitous residential broadband in
the early 1990's, the Baby Bells persuaded state's legislatures and
public utility commissions to provide substantial tax incentives and
to allow them to charge increased consumer fees. The Telcos argued
they needed these increases and incentives to pay for needed
infrastructure improvements if they were to fulfill their promises.
Since that time, these public subsidies amount to more than $200
billion, or about $2000 per U.S. household.
What were they promising? In the Telcos' own words, this wonderful
"broadband" was to offer at least 45Mbps *in both directions*, enough
to provide "high-quality video services" into and out of your home at
the same time! Further, by 2006,
What did we receive? After a time, they all rolled out ADSL which
appears to max out at 3Mbps/768Kbps, but only if you live next to
your local Telco Central Office. Today, no one in the United States
can purchase 45Mbps bi-directional residential broadband service, at
any price.
In Korea today, you can purchase 100Mbps residential broadband for
the equivalent of $40 per month.
The top offering from Verizon's FIOS offers only about 30% of that
for $180 per month.
However, FIOS is not generally available and doesn't offer a bi-
directional service; it's an asymmetrical service of 30Mbps into your
home and only 5Mbps out. Also, Verizon does not guarantee these
speeds: "Speed and uninterrupted use of the service are not
guaranteed." But even if Verizon's FIOS offered the same type of
service but with speeds equal to Korea's, it would cost the consumer
13.5 times as much or $540 per mo.
According to experts, the U.S. economy has lost more than $5 trillion
due to the emergence of foreign competition in high-speed services
and lost business opportunities here at home.
How we allowed the Telcos and Cablecos to redefine this critical term
to mean some multiple of low-speed 56Kbps modem lines where "Actual
speeds may vary and are not guaranteed." and residential services are
designed for "couch-potato web surfers" who only need "big bandwidth
in" and "almost none out" is left to the reader's imagination.
See http://www.newnetworks.com/
--
/rr (Rob Raisch, Technology-Gadfly and Internet Greybeard)
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