...

It should be noted that the same statement applies to DSL, FTTH, or RFC-1419 service as well: anyone who wants to CAN do an overbuild, and in fact that would

David Barak noted: probably be the best for customers in the long-run. A very timely comment, and IMO you are correct. Especially with respect to "that would probably be the best for customers in the long-run." ;) But there obviously are limits. I have at times been involved with, and seen the work of others who have attempted to come up with a number that defines just how many horizontal service providers - at the various layers of the stack -- with glass-wireless at 1, gigabit Ethernet at 2, and Internet at 3 -- a given service territory could support. Analysis must take into account the needs of the citizens being served; the SPs' viability and financial sustainability; and the sheer logistics of the situation, given the limitations of time, space and the need for elegant hand offs to customers through the use of a minimal set of channel interfaces and speeds. Given an area where poles and underground conduits are already occupied with at least two wireline heavyweights, namely the duopoly players who are happily dancing to the tune of "inter-modal" competition that was given a blessing by the FCC, plus the electric company on the ground, and three-to-four wireless providers who already are renting space on existing tower structures for WiMAX, how may more trenches, poles and towers can the support structures and rights of way in many populated areas support? Consider a simple example, albeit, one that is more easily stated than accomplished, granted: A fiber condominium builder receives permission and a franchise to overbuild glass onto an entire town's existing copper footprint, resulting in a shared Layer 1 resource that allows upper layer Service Providers to rent fiber from them in the forms of feeder, distribution and drop cables right up to each end point. Go! frank@fttx.org --------- On Wed May 11 17:08 , David Barak sent:

--- "Sam Hayes Merritt, III" sam@themerritts.org> wrote:

...

You are always free to obtain a franchise and run your own coax. Just because the incumbent cable company does not allow every tom dick and harry ISP to use their copper doesn't mean you can't provide the same service.

It should be noted that the same statement applies to DSL, FTTH, or RFC-1419 service as well: anyone who wants to CAN do an overbuild, and in fact that would probably be the best for customers in the long-run.

David Barak Need Geek Rock? Try The Franchise: http://www.listentothefranchise.com

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