The promise is what the speed can bring you. We've only scratched the surface. For ISPs it's not too late to start grabbing market share in the quest for value-added services. The first companies to offer voice, streaming audio, and video, as well as business applications, will be able to establish market share before the local Bell arrives. Once they're entrenched, it will be difficult to pry them loose.
Carpe diem ISPs have to wake up to the fact that the wolves are at the door and licking their chops.
Both the RBOCs and the CLECs see a fat market that's ripe for the taking. To protect themselves, ISPs should first face the reality that their alliance with the CLECs is not a permanent one. Covad, for one, has already made a move to deal directly with retail customers by partnering with Big Net, which gives them a retail presence. RBOCs already operate their own ISP services, should all CLECs do the same, ISPs could be squeezed out. Covad is now in direct selling.