#121887 - 03/17/03 05:26 PM
Re: More News about URU: Ages Beyond MYST
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BAAG Specialist
Registered: 04/18/02
Posts: 5588
Loc: Oklahoma, USA
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 Lipid, another factor, not usually mentioned, is that other providers use the Bell lines to provide DSL services to customers, and only pay a small portion, per Federal law, for use of these lines, well below what it cost the Bell companies for the lines. Until Federal law is changed concerning this practice, the Bell companines are going to limit their investments in the DSL area.
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If something gets your goat, it just proves you have a goat to get.
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#121889 - 03/18/03 07:48 PM
Re: More News about URU: Ages Beyond MYST
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Addicted Boomer
Registered: 12/30/00
Posts: 1947
Loc: Land of 10,000 Lakes
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Homer6,
I think the FCC just voted to relieve the telcos of the need to open their networks to other providers.
Originally, in 1996, the telcos agreed to allow access because that agreement would give them access to, what was then, the lucrative long distance market. When the long distance market collapsed, the telcos decided they would take their time making access to their networks available. This eventually starved out most of the third party DSL providers.
And, as it stands today, DSL is still not a money maker. Hence, no rush by the telcos in getting it up and running.
Given the problems (and issues) with DSL, it looks like cable wins the race for broadband. With, maybe, satellite coming up a fast second.
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#121890 - 03/18/03 11:11 PM
Re: More News about URU: Ages Beyond MYST
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BAAG Specialist
Registered: 04/18/02
Posts: 5588
Loc: Oklahoma, USA
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 According to what my company told us, the push was to get the FCC to let the Bell companies charge the indenpendant providers actual costs of those leased lines, instead of the reduced rates, which the FCC chose not to do. We haven't received any word on what you mentioned, but it would be good news to know that did happen. Where the push for DSL happened was in the large cities, where the money is. Sure, the rural areas got DSL, but only within 15,000 feet of the telephone's central office. So anyone beyond that, or not having cable, or satellite, are out of luck. I've heard there is technology being developed, or already out, that extends the range that DSL can be offered. But as you said, because of the low return on investment, this technology isn't being used either. 
_________________________
If something gets your goat, it just proves you have a goat to get.
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#121891 - 03/19/03 06:37 AM
Re: More News about URU: Ages Beyond MYST
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Addicted Boomer
Registered: 12/30/00
Posts: 1947
Loc: Land of 10,000 Lakes
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Homer6, The source of my information can be found here . The most telling quote from the article is this: When it comes to high-speed DSL and fiber-optic lines, Baby Bells will no longer have to share their networks with rivals.I could be wrong, but that doesn't sound like just a rate increase. And that brings us back to your point about the inability of the telcos to make enough money on DSL to justify the costs of offering it. Or offering it at a reasonable price. If there is no one other than the telcos to offer DSL, I wonder what the price will be? And whether the telcos will be willing to let DSL fade away like ISDN?
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#121893 - 03/20/03 11:32 AM
Re: More News about URU: Ages Beyond MYST
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True Blue Boomer
Registered: 05/26/99
Posts: 22381
Loc: Seattle Washington USA
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Hi there, Gamenut..........Hooray for your observations. Having retired from the telecommunications industry myself, I am lined up right beside you on this issue. IMHO.... In the words of a close friend who is currently deeply engaged in this newer offering..."the bottom line here is MONEY, MONEY, MONEY." Nothing new, huh? Good solid customer service is becoming as scarce as hen's teeth. Love, Witchen =O) 
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#121896 - 03/20/03 04:13 PM
Re: More News about URU: Ages Beyond MYST
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Addicted Boomer
Registered: 03/18/02
Posts: 1565
Loc: Pennsylvania, USA (left my bel...
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Well, I'm going to pipe in here. I'm really looking forward to the release of Uru. I do have broadband, DSL in fact, so that's not an issue. I'm also assuming there will be monthly subscription fee, which, if it's in the range of $12-$15 per month (US dollars) I will pay. I'm glad to be in a position where I have broadband and I can pay a monthly fee - I know it's not like that for everyone.
Just thought I'd say this, while we were in the midst of discussing other things. Uru, Uru, Uru, hurry up!
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#121898 - 03/20/03 11:35 PM
Re: More News about URU: Ages Beyond MYST
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BAAG Specialist
Registered: 04/18/02
Posts: 5588
Loc: Oklahoma, USA
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 Thanks for the info, Lipid, it was something we had not yet heard. And since I don't have the time to be online for hours on end, I would never have heard about it. And that article hit the nail right on the head, and I wonder how many more telcos are going to go belly up before the FCC changes their ruling. When I started with the telco company I work for, 25 years ago, THE CUSTOMER drove the business, and making THAT CUSTOMER happy was THE first and only thing that mattered. Over the years, that has changed, and changed drastically. Now, MR. MONEY is the ONLY topic of the day, everyday. And because MR. MONEY has taken over the business, the general plant has really taken a beating. Some of the cables in our outside plant are 50 years old or older, lead sheathed, 100% full, and are in dire need of repairs. Instead of replacing these 100% full cables, or older cables, with larger, newer cables, additional cables are buried along side, or spun up with the existing cables, taking up valuable space. And because PRODUCTION is right up there with MR. MONEY, any cable repairs will be taken care of when that's the only thing that can keep the techs busy for the day. But with such a reduced work force, that rarely happens. Thus, telephone plant is in a very sad state of neglect. As long as a city has cable TV, there will be competition within broadband services. Those living in the rural areas will be the losers in all of this, unless they have a phone company that will offer them broadband service, like the CO-OP I belong to. Or can, and are willing to, invest in satellite services. And for get about placing fiber optic cable to homes in rural areas, it's just too expensive an investment for the return. What really needs to happen, is the development of a transmission system that allows broadband to be delivered regardless of distance, over existing lines, which allows greater return than investment. Go ahead, someone slap me, wake me up. I have these funny dreams on occasion. 
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If something gets your goat, it just proves you have a goat to get.
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#121900 - 03/21/03 12:23 AM
Re: More News about URU: Ages Beyond MYST
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Settled Boomer
Registered: 10/16/01
Posts: 519
Loc: Portland
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Are you kidding? I just bought another 256 ram, an 80 gig HD, 2.0 ghz processor, and a Geforce 4 ti4200 video card just in anticipation for this game. Not to mention I only paid $250.
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What do you see Crispeto? I see URU Live!
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