Hi all,
> Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2005 10:33:00 -0600
> From: "Joe Laura" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: Re: [WISPA] BellSouth rescinds N.O. donation
> To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org>
>
> And with bell having to rebuild their whole infrastructure here in New
> Orleans its a bigger slap in the face IMO. The hotel owners are pretty upset
> with this as well. Ya, the City has really ruffled some feathers over this
> move.
Regardless of whether or not the City of New Orleans government needs a spanking
;) -- I have a fairly different take on this matter, one less focused on the
specifics of the New Orleans/BellSouth fiasco and more oriented toward
BellSouth's general business strategy. BellSouth is clearly attempting to
leverage it's market dominance in one area (wireline communications) to prevent
competition in a different realm (in this case, wireless networking). This is
exactly the type of dynamic that anti-trust laws were intended to keep in check.
BellSouth's actions in New Orleans are just the most recent manifestation of a
strategy that _will_ be utilized against folks like us (e.g., independent ISPs).
BellSouth has systematically attempted to prevent any sort of competition
within their service areas -- their New Orleans tantrum is only the latest
example. I wrote up a brief piece about some of their most recent actions here:
http://www.saschameinrath.com/2005dec04bellsouths_shame
I'm sure there are numerous ways in which the City of New Orleans needs
reforming -- but BellSouth's actions are targeted against any and all
competitive entities -- they will certainly focus on WISPA members down the
road. Instead of blaming New Orleans for what is obviously a widespread
business strategy, I'd recommend focusing on BellSouth, who clearly isn't
interested in "playing well with others" and has a well-documented history of
using its market power to bully others.
--Sascha
--
Sascha Meinrath
Policy Analyst * Project Coordinator * President
Free Press *** CUWiN *** Acorn Active Media
www.freepress.net * www.cuwireless.net * www.acornactivemedia.com
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