On Wed, May 27, 1998 at 10:34:18PM +0000, Michael Shields wrote:
It is true that the old PSTN has locality of traffic, but it doesn't have flat rate pricing, or the usage patterns that the Internet has.
Why are you assuming that the Internet will continue to have non-distance-sensitive pricing, when it clearly has distance- sensitive costs (ultimately)?
Because that has been the primary driver to date of the kind of growth the Internet has undergone. That it has distance sensitive costs only matters if you're trying to be a nationwide ultra-backbone. If you just run your little local exchange, and run a couple T's to the next couple nearby exchanges, then the fact that the loops are mileage rated is spread out over everyone... and the "backbone" would be much more resistant to backhoe fades... and the "big 5" would be _really_ pissed off. Good. Cheers, -- jra -- Jay R. Ashworth jra@baylink.com Member of the Technical Staff Unsolicited Commercial Emailers Sued The Suncoast Freenet "Two words: Darth Doogie." -- Jason Colby, Tampa Bay, Florida on alt.fan.heinlein +1 813 790 7592 Managing Editor, Top Of The Key sports e-zine ------------ http://www.totk.com