US/ND-5: Re: ISPs

Re: ISPs

Kevin Conde (KevinC@sutter.k12.ca.us)
Fri, 27 Sep 1996 09:50:36 -0700 

At 04:14 PM 9/26/96 PDT, Wong, WayJane wrote:
>To Whom It May Still Concern -
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>
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>Thank you again Information Renaissance...  time consuming but 
>worthwhile...
>
>I realize the following comments or questions are  not part of this 
>week's assignments and this is the final week,  but I was wondering if 
>there might be someone out there who could help me sort this out...
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>Reflecting on my own previously submitted comments:
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>"All services, whether basic or advanced,  would be available to schools 
>and libraries as discounted rates and all telecommunications carriers 
>including internet service providers should be considered as providers of 
>these services".
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>My question is:
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>If the ISPs were to be classified as providers of advanced services,  
>they would have to be REGULATED... Once regulated,  all ISPs would then 
>be eligible for the Universal Services Fund or possibly be providing 
>discounted services by means of a competitive procurement process.  Might 
>the simple act of regulating ISPs actually increase overall internet 
>service costs to everyone without anything else happening?  I wonder what 
>the ISPs think...  Do they want to be regulated?  Should they be 
>regulated?  If ISPs are regulated,  would this mean everyone who is 
>currently in business as an ISP or anyone planning to start an ISP 
>service would have to be approved by each state public utilities 
>commission?  Has someone already addressed these concerns?
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>Any comments?
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>Thanks,
>
>Way Jane Wong
>
Way Jane Wong:

No, I don't think ISPs should be regulated!  ISPs should be allowed to
flourish or die the same as any small business.  The free market should
determine the quality and quantity of their service.  It's the telecomm
service providers that need regulation, or in some cases deregulation.  In
some cases they need to be required to provide a basic level of service, to
include frame relay and ISDN, to all subscribers in their area.  At the same
time we must allow competition between telecomm providers, because with out
competition, they have little incentive to improver their service or efficiency.

Kevin

Kevin Conde
Technology Coordinator
Sutter County Superintendent of Schools Office
916-741-5115, x103