Some truth about Comcast - WikiLeaks style

Mon Dec 20 05:30:45 UTC 2010

  On 19/12/10 8:44 PM, Owen DeLong wrote:
> You can send letters

Technically, this is illegal.  You can send "documents" via FedEx and UPS.

> just as well as packages via the other carriers.
>
> The "USPS monopoly" on first class mail is absurd. In fact, FedEx, UPS,
> et. al could offer a $0.44 letter product if they wanted to.

No, they can't.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_Express_Statutes

> They could not call it mail. They could call it "first class document delivery."
>
> However, the reality is that they probably couldn't sustain their business
> at that price point.
>
> The USPS doesn't have an actual monopoly so much as ownership of
> the term Mail almost like a trademark.

It's not just a trademark, it's the class of service.  Just try starting 
up a regular mail service, and see how far you get before they SHUT YOU 
DOWN.

>   What they do have is an infrastructure
> built at taxpayer expense that creates a very high barrier to entry for
> competition at their price points.

FedEx entered the package delivery market even though there was a very 
high barrier to entry, and they succeeded.

jc