Oliver Jones wrote:
I've deleted the email I was going to respond to... damn. Anyway, regarding LLU, the PDF pointed to makes a good point. Really people should be trying to get access to the ground so they can lay fibre.
Exactly... <rant> I personally thought Saturn (now TelstraSaturn) had the right idea, pity they targetted the wrong audience in the first instance. They targetted the richie rich areas and put their cables overhead (and then had to put their cables underground), the customer takeup wasn't that great, if they targetted the sub-socieconomic areas first, then they would have been fine as the customer take up would have been desireable and needless to say, the overhead cables is a standard feature in the getto. If you guys are not convinced, go for a drive down poets corner, murder triange, etc (or Otara if you're in Auckland) and then drive through Harrowfield, etc and tell me the difference with the density of the Sky Digital Dishes. </rant> The fact is that if a provider used the local loop, Telecom is still in the picture charging the market entrants the Rack Unit telehousing and a lease for the twisted pair between the local exchange and the customers demarcation point. Also, who is providing the link between the provider and the local exchange ?
There is some sort of ruling in NY that makes it compulsory for all utility companies to co-operate on all ditch digging activities. If one company wants to lay a cable all other companies must also lay cable in the same ditch. If they don't they can't dig up the same part of the street for some long period of time. I believe this bylaw was put in place because NY city residents were complaining bitterly about the near constant road works and such due to cable/telecoms companies.
That is not as easy as it sounds... There needs to be a lot of *fundamental* law changes to make that happen.