[tortoise]

The real problem with respect to cheap and ubiquitous broadband is that the telcos want to bleed every last dollar they can out of their copper infrastructure. As long as they attempt to do this, broadband service will continue to suck. The architecture is crappy to begin with and the services are only expensive because they insist on using it.

Fortunately, we are seeing the very first rollouts of voice and data services that will obsolete the need to use the telco's last mile (or any of their infrastructure for that matter), and delivering way better performance for the money. The telcos will either change the way they do business and write-off their old infrastructure or die a slow death. They cannot compete cost-wise with some of the smart and viable alternatives that are just now emerging, and they are way too slow and top-heavy to make the necesary changes to their networks in a cost effective manner. Good riddance I say.

[Bogey78O]

'The real problem with respect to cheap and ubiquitous broadband is that the telcos want to bleed every last dollar they can out of their copper infrastructure'

I agree. I know we do need to change out the infrastructure and get more fiber optic lines as carriers. It's not terribly hard to do either. Bell doesn't want to because the installation of new plant is seen as a burden and treated as such in accounting. Add to the fact that the Feds try to bleed them whenever any equipment in installed via taxes. Bell spends millions alone on people and offices just to keep track of how much they owe in taxes to the federal gov't each year.

Reform does need to be made in the treatment of the Telco's but breaking it up will accomplish nothing.