From: shagan@gandalf.rutgers.edu (Susan Hagan)
Newsgroups: alt.cable-tv.re-regulate
Subject: Re: We need COMPETITION, not Re-regulation
Date: 15 Sep 92 15:24:24 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

bicker@cbnewsi.cb.att.com (The Resource, Poet-Magician of Quality) writes:

I just realized that I missed a crucial point in your original message.

>Terry writes:
>>>correct analogy.  We already have multiple channels, owned and
>>>operated by competing firms, sharing the cable.  We have a single
                                ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Where do competing cable services share the cable?  Do they share all
the cable or just the trunk lines?  If this is true then we don't need
to continue this discussion because this is what I am advocating.

>But you still have the same LOCAL phone company...just like we have a
>LOCAL cable company who provides the line to the house...and acts as the
>agent for dozens of "long distance" cable services (ESPN, HBO, ...)
>which actually offer cable service.  I know my cable company doesn't
>offer any substantial cable service itself (if you don't include the
>public access channel.)

Okay, this is where we differ.  You are saying that the Cable Company
is like the Local Phone Company - in my area that would be TKR Cable
and NJ Bell.

And each channel that TKR Cable brings me is like each service that
the Phone company brings me.  For example, call waiting = Showtime,
tone block = HBO, etc.  You are also putting each long distance 
option in that same category, right?

Okay.  That is not the analogy that I am presenting.  I am not
referring to the local level of telephone service at all.  Imagine
it this way:

NJ Bell                    =           Common Carrier Cable Deliverer

Provides local service                Does not provide local Service

Provides                              Provides 
choice of long                        choice of cable company:
distance companies:

AT&T                                  TKR Cable

Sprint                                C-Tec Cable

MCI                                   Joe-Blow Cable

Each company offers its own           Each company offers its own
package of services.  You             package of services.  You can
can only choose one, but              only choose one, but you can
you can switch whenever you like.     switch whenever you like.


We are getting tangled up because you are defining HBO as a cable
service.  It is not a cable service.  A cable service runs a cable
to your home, leases you equipment, and sells you programming to watch
on your television.  All over cable.

HBO does not deliver cable to your home.  As a matter of fact, you 
don't even need cable running to your home to get HBO. HBO is a programmer.  
HBO provides 24 hour programming which it transmits via satellite.  The cable
deliverer purchases the right to receive this signal and redistribute it to
its subscribers.

You cannot purchase HBO Programming directly from HBO to be received via
cable.  (Maybe you can for home satellite delivery, but thats a different
story.) If you call them and ask to do this, they will tell you to contact
your local cable service provider, because HBO has no direct access to the
wires coming into your house.

>The company that provides the service to the
>house is, or should be, a public utility.  

I agree with that.  However, I would take it one step further.  I think
the company who owns the wires should be required to lease space on those
wires to competitors, thus taking on a Common Carrier status. 

AT&T owns the wires that come into your house, but they are required to
lease space to MCI and Sprint. 

The question is, can the wires that are in place now accomodate that much
traffic?  Is there enough room?  A telecom professor of mine says no, but
he could be wrong.



-- 
Susan R. Hagan (shagan@gandalf.rutgers.edu) 
Publications Coordinator - User Services
Rutgers University Computing Services