The FCC Keeps Using that Word. I do not Think it Means What the FCC Thinks it Means § Lean Left

The FCC Keeps Using that Word. I do not Think it Means What the FCC Thinks it Means § Lean Left

The FCC Keeps Using that Word. I do not Think it Means What the FCC Thinks it Means

Posted by Kevin

The FCC has relieved phone companies of the obligation of opening their lines to competing DSL companies:

The Federal Communications Commission ruled Friday that Internet DSL providers like SBC will no longer be required to lease high-speed lines to independent rivals.
(snip)
“I believe that, with the actions we take today, consumers will reap the benefits of increased Internet access competition and enjoy innovative high- speed services at lower prices,” said Kevin Martin, the FCC chairman, in a statement.

I love that quote. It is so brazen, so obnoxious in its complete disconnect from reality, such utter and unapologetic bullshit that it almost approaches the level of art. PR people will be studying that quote for decades. Young press spokespeople will speak of it in voices hushed with awe. The name Kevin Martin will forever be known as the finest and bravest bullshit artist this country has produced. Scott McClellan has a new hero.

This decision will do nothing but allow phone companies to extend their government supported monopoly to an area where no monopoly could be justified. It will destroy competition, limit consumer choice, drive up prices, and further retard the growth of broadband access in this country. In an economy that increasingly depends upon information and information based services, this decision is an attack upon the foundations of the economy. Phone lines are a public utility. The FCC should have mandated that phone companies make the upgrades necessary to facilitate high speed internet access, force them out of the access provision business, and forced them to open their lines to third party companies at lease rates sufficient to support the upgrades. That way, consumers get better service, lower prices, and the economy is protected from the phone companies natural desire to monopolize a new market for itself.

That would take a little bit of creative thinking on the FCC’s part. But that shouldn’t be a problem — base don the quality of their bullshit, we know they have some fairly smart people working for them. All they have to do is to concentrate their efforts on serving the public instead of serving the phone companies. Surely, that cannot be so hard a task.

Surely?