This came through a techie list I'm on - thought I'd see what comments the TCLUG'ers had about it! ----- Forwarded message from Michael Brian Bentley <bentley at crenelle.com> ----- An intriguing article about how the RBOCs may have intentionally caused problems and delays in the process of installing DSL equipment to support ISPs. http://www.herring.com/index.asp?layout=story&channel=%25&doc_id=170019817&rh_special_report_id= "...Mr. Olson says that in late 1999, when Oacys owned about 85 percent of the local dial-up market, his customers began asking about DSL. At that time, he says, his Pac Bell account manager assured him Pac Bell wouldn't offer DSL in Porterville because of its relatively weak demographics (a small population and little industry). One week later, he discovered by accident that Pac Bell, in fact, would begin selling DSL in Porterville within a month. Unoffended, he ordered DSL line provisioning for Oacys. "They didn't have the pricing worked out, but they gave me some price quotes verbally that they later backed out on," he says." "Thus began a 15-month ordeal that left Mr. Olson sworn off DSL forever. Pac Bell originally claimed it would have the Oacys DSLAM running within a month but didn't deliver service until November 2000, one year after Oacys filed its application. The delays included everything from simple stonewalling to technicians hooking up the DSLAM to the wrong power panel, according to Mr. Olson. The Keystone Kops quality of the situation might have been amusing had Oacys not begun losing customers during the delay. "It was definitely an 'egg on our face' situation," Mr. Olson says." ----- End forwarded message ----- -- Scott Raun sraun at fireopal.org