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I found this a good discussion of rates and subsidies
From: David Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>
Date: Wed, 5 Jan 1994 11:10:19 -0500
Date: Wed, 5 Jan 1994 10:39:45 -0500 (EST) From: Marvin Sirbu <ms6b+ () andrew cmu edu> Subject: Re: a "keeper of the Internet"
Or, for example, what I consider to be the exhorbitant connection charges foisted off on local phone users in the form of "supplemental line charges" and the long-distance rates -- again, largely a subsidy in the form of a settlement to the local telcos. . . .
Why? Because the local telcos <can get away with it>, since they have monopoly power in a given local calling area. To that I say "barf".
For a good example of the way monopolies work check this out: 24 POTS lines from IBT: $ 360 a month 1 T1 from IBT, point-to-point: $1,000 a month
Now, why is this? 24 POTS lines take the same bandwidth as a T1 in the telco equipment.... <and> require a channel bank full of cards and 22 more pairs of copper to get to me to boot!
The wonder of monopolies.
Payments from long distance companies to local companies are indeed subsidies. They are part of a government mandated public policy that says long distance users should subsidize basic local calling rates. This same public policy says T1 lines should not be subsdized. So, it is not suprising that 24 POTS lines that are sold below cost due to subsidies from long distance should be cheaper than 1 T1 line point to point. The T1 price is also based on rate averaging. The point-to-point T1 link costs $1,000 whether the two points are both next door to the Central Office, or each 5 miles away. Most LECs would be happy to de-average their T1 rates if the regulators would permit it. But you won't like the resultant rates if you live out in the boonies.... If you have a problem with this policy, take it up with your local PUC and the FCC. The LECs would be more than happy to reduce access charges and intra-LATA toll and raise local telephone rates to their true, unsubsidized price. That would enable them to compete more effectively with MCI and the like for intra-LATA revenue. In California, they have finally persuaded the PUC to begin to reduce the subsidies. As a result, when the plan takes effect, local rates will go up by 80% and intra-LATA toll rates will go down by about 40%. Marvin Sirbu
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- I found this a good discussion of rates and subsidies David Farber (Jan 05)