Tuesday, March 19, 2002
Consumers groups opposing the lifting of open access rules on cable and DSL providers must be wearing blindfolds. That, at least, is the conclusion one draws from plans to sue to prevent the FCC from removing these restrictions. South Korea is now one of the most connected countries in the world, with 51% of the population having internet access in the home. Of that total, 57% have broadband internet access. Compare that to America, which manages a mere 13%.
America is doing something wrong. While economic regulators fiddle with the issue of ensuring future market competition, other countries are letting the market make its own decisions. You don't CREATE market competition. It just happens. Markets may or may not decide to concentrate itself in the hands of a small number of suppliers. If it does, however, it does so because CONSUMERS decided to make it so. Consumers are smarter than goverment give them credit for.
The FCC has decided that its attempt at centrally planned market competition doesn't work. They appear to recognize that ISPs need to have some assurance of a return on their investment before making the decision to upgrade their cable or telephone lines. Open access removes the profit incentive for DSL and cable providers.
This consumer doesn't want the "consumer advocates'" help. If I'm free to buy from whomever I want, suppliers should be free to supply product however they want.
America is doing something wrong. While economic regulators fiddle with the issue of ensuring future market competition, other countries are letting the market make its own decisions. You don't CREATE market competition. It just happens. Markets may or may not decide to concentrate itself in the hands of a small number of suppliers. If it does, however, it does so because CONSUMERS decided to make it so. Consumers are smarter than goverment give them credit for.
The FCC has decided that its attempt at centrally planned market competition doesn't work. They appear to recognize that ISPs need to have some assurance of a return on their investment before making the decision to upgrade their cable or telephone lines. Open access removes the profit incentive for DSL and cable providers.
This consumer doesn't want the "consumer advocates'" help. If I'm free to buy from whomever I want, suppliers should be free to supply product however they want.
