Well, the Supreme Court isn't the ONLY thing that stands in the way. (Besides, do you really want this SC to wiegh in?) Come next November, we can send a very strong message to the very person who put both those individuals into positions of power. --- Robert Lee <robertslee@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > Supposedly today Powell applauded the Qwest 271 in > Arizona by saying, = > "Today > the barrier between offering local and long distance > service has been > removed." > > So much for Harold Greene and 1984. He is using > TA96 to undo 1984, even = > as > he uses his perch to kill of the remaining CLECs. > > The distinction between Martin and Powell is a > distinction without a > difference. =20 > > The only thing that stands in the way is the Supreme > Court. > > > Robert Lee > > > -----Original Message----- > From: antidote-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx = > [mailto:antidote-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] > On Behalf Of jim rogers > Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2003 12:14 PM > To: antidote@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [antidote] Re: Yet another change of heart: > Powell Opposes = > Internet > Phone Regulation > > > The Washington Post headline got it wrong. Powell > has > not said that he is opposed to regulating VoIP. In > fact, what he did say is that the regulatory issues > associated with VoIP are "discrete" -- whatever the > hell that means. > > The point is that Powell clearly recognizes that > VoIP > is creating problems for legacy regulation. And VoIP > is going to continue doing so until new regulation > comes along. > > You're correct in taking Powell's utterings with a > grain of salt. In fact, you may want to try > absorbing > Powell's rhetoric while you're still in the salt > mine. > That's a good place in which to listen to him. > > I don't think regulating VoIP will necessarily > require > government monitoring of Net traffic. (Not that it > matters ... The gov't already does that anyway.) The > trick will be for the policymakers to create a > regulatory framework that is in fact technology > neutral. But to do that, they may end up having to > make some sweeping changes in the '96 Act -- which > is > exactly what the RBOCs want to see happen. And > that's > one of the reasons you're not hearing a lot of > moaning > and groaning about VoIP coming from the RBOCs. > > JR > > > --- Robert Lee <robertslee@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > >=20 > > I wish I were as optimistic as you. > >=20 > > It does not take five years and three million > words > > to say you are =3D > > against > > regulating VOIP. I am a Powell watcher. The > chances > > for detection by =3D > > mere > > mortals of what Powell intends to do falls off > > inversely proportional to =3D > > the > > number of words the blatherer utters. > >=20 > > He has no philosophical underpinnings (other than > > his own grandeur), he =3D > > is > > incompetent, has lost control of the FCC, and he > is > > a world class > > procrastinator who cannot do anything until > ordered > > twice by a federal > > court. > >=20 > > Powell will mollify the Bells. The Bells were not > > there. That tells =3D > > you > > something. The deal has been cut. > >=20 > > In my opinion the issue of whether to regulate or > > not regulate VOIP is =3D > > as > > laughable as whether or not to tell an 800 pound > > gorilla where to sit. =3D > > How > > the hell are you going to regulate it? Sure, in > the > > beginning you can > > regulate it because there are nodes required to > > route calls to the PSTN. > > But if VOIP is everything it is cracked up to be, > > only Granny Fricket =3D > > will > > be on the PSTN and who needs to call her? > >=20 > > So in the end, if my limited knowledge is not a > > dangerous thing, to =3D > > regulate > > VOIP will require the government to sniff every > > packet on the Internet =3D > > and > > somehow charge back to someone based on the > > contents. > >=20 > > The only solution is a Universal Service Charge on > > access. Because in =3D > > the > > end, at least for consumers who will use an > > unmanaged network, access =3D > > will > > be the only charge anyway. > >=20 > > By the way, I have used Vonage for six months and > > each month I get a =3D > > tiny > > email bill that thanks me for my business and > tells > > me my credit card =3D > > has > > successfully been charged $38.00. When the > > electricity goes out all =3D > > calls > > are automatically routed to my cell phone. The > > issue of emergency is =3D > > just > > a polemical objection. We have three cell phones > in > > the house. Who > > doesn't? VOIP providers could offer free debit > card > > cell phones with > > charger cradles. But even that is pandering. > >=20 > >=20 > > Robert Lee > >=20 > >=20 > > -----Original Message----- > > From: antidote-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx =3D > > [mailto:antidote-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] > > On Behalf Of Valerie Fast Horse > > Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 5:36 PM > > To: 'Antidote (E-mail) > > Subject: [antidote] Yet another change of heart: > > Powell Opposes Internet > > Phone Regulation > >=20 > >=20 > > Here's the latest in VoIP news.... > > Powell Opposes Internet Phone Regulation > > =3D20 > > By Christopher Stern > > Washington Post Staff Writer > > Tuesday, December 2, 2003; Page E05=3D20 > >=20 > > Government Interference Could Stifle Developing > > Technology, FCC Chief > > Warns..... > >=20 > > > http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26729-2003Dec1.html > >=20 > > > *************************************************************************= > =3D > > *** > > ************** > >=20 > > If you remember, less than a week ago I sent this > > link: > >=20 > > Having a Change of Heart, Powell Said to Now Favor > > Regulation of VoIP > === message truncated === ________________________________________________________ The antidote list discussion covers issues related to getting beyond monopoly in telecom. 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