Senate Hearings

[rd@cottonwood.com (Rick Dahlgren)]

4-14-98

Yesterday, the Senate Commerce Committee heard testimony from Cox
Communications, US West, Mindspring, AOL, and PSI Net about the deployment
of broadband and access to broadband distribution.

Yawn.

Cox, representing the cable industry, said the government should "stay the
course" and not meddle with access.

US West said the government should give it a de-regulation package allowing
it unregulated digital access across lata boundaries.

AOL said the government should move quickly to compel cable companies to
open up their broadband networks.

Mindspring, supposedly an isp, went on and on about how great the phone
companies are and how bad the cable companies are......ever hear of an isp
with that opinion?

PSI Net bashed the phone companies......like a real isp should.

What I think I witnessed was death by association for AOL and Mindspring. 
I tried to warn the OpenNet Coalition that it was bad politics and
hypocritical to affiliate with the likes of US West......but nooooo.  

AOL, Mindspring and US West are all members of the coalition and after
Senator Hollings was finished with a scathing attack on the rboc's directed
at US West's Solomon Trujillo, AOL and Mindspring were left....with nothing
but Not....as in OpenNot.

No hurry, said the senators.  We'll push to get a report.  We'll study the
matter....in other words, get lost you whiny apologists.

Kudos to PSI for taking aim at the real problems....and good luck.

Rick Dahlgren
rd@cottonwood.com