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I'm all in favor of a national telecommunications policy to make broadband ubiquitous. But I have some concerns about Tauzin-Dingell.

It does require the RBOCs to install DSLAMs in their central offices - but it does not require them to actually offer service on them.

Furthermore, the RBOCs have not given any specific committments to expand DSL service if the bill passes. I think they should go on the record with some specific plans they will implement if they want to get this bill passed.

I think the better solution is for Congress and the FCC to set DSL as the new standard for telephone networks, and phase out the 100-year-old voice grade standard. The Bells will say it is impossible and too expensive, but I don't believe it.

I work for SBC and believe me, we would wire everybody if the gubmint would get out of the way. They will only allow us to go places where there is already competition. Now that the dot com bubble has burst, there is planned expansion on hold because we would have an "unfair advantage" if nobody else was there. It is regulation that is stopping expansion in Texas. Yes, we can and will go farther than the 18k limit by using pair gain or what we call SLC huts with fiber to DSLAM systems. No, you don't have to have fiber to the house to do it. Several of the competitors have gone under during the economic downturn, and have thwarted our expasion plans. The gubmit even forces us to give our competitors floor space in our C.O's with cages in them for their equipment. We cannot even stop the techs from access to our offices. This was hairy during the recent upsurge in security we couldn't even challenge people in our buildings as long as they had badges. They could be ex cons or Taliban for all we knew. If the gubmit will cut the RBOCS some slack, you'll get your speed and we'll make money. Our stock has been in the $36-$38 range recently, partly because of the Broadband delay's. I also install fiber mux's for the competition and recently we have had a spate of disconnects. So wireless and cable haven't been doing all that well either.

BTW, I live and work in the country, not in the city. Broadband maybe doing fine in the city, but I don't have first hand knowledge.

BellSouth has stated it's goal is to triple it's DSL availability between 2000-2001. It's on the verge of meeting that goal. I'm expecting them to make the same plan for next year.

I work in an area where we monitor 3 cities. The smallest is less than 4,000. They got a DSL equipped CO this august.