Monday, December 01, 2003
FCC VOIP Hearing: Abernathy asks a good question
Commissioner Abernathy asks: Isn't there a train wreck coming (as the telcos lose revenue)? She points out that we'll still need the PSTN.
The panel addresses the future -- after all, it is a visionary panel -- but it doesn't answer her question. What happens when the 20% of the customers who acct for 80% of the revenue move off of the PSTN? What happens to the other 80% that still dials into the net, or that still uses Plain Old Telephone Service?
This will require some deep thinking, and some conscious public policy making. I think the people to address it are not at the table.
There are two ways to go on that. (1) You could encourage the transition or (2) you could prop up the legacy. Either is likely to require "subsidy" in some form.
The panel addresses the future -- after all, it is a visionary panel -- but it doesn't answer her question. What happens when the 20% of the customers who acct for 80% of the revenue move off of the PSTN? What happens to the other 80% that still dials into the net, or that still uses Plain Old Telephone Service?
This will require some deep thinking, and some conscious public policy making. I think the people to address it are not at the table.
There are two ways to go on that. (1) You could encourage the transition or (2) you could prop up the legacy. Either is likely to require "subsidy" in some form.
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