[funsec] Not so fast, broadband providers tell big users (fwd)

Tue Mar 13 20:08:12 UTC 2007

Todd Vierling wrote:
> 
> The reality is probably that the service is available, but the slow
> motion of *infrastructure* network upgrades (where the CPE might not
> even need a change in some cases) is holding back the rest of the
> works.
> 

Network upgrades tend to not be cheap, and I doubt the vendors care to lower 
their pricing. Coupling voice and data in the same remotes is even more costly, 
although for some rural telcos has meant finally integrating carrier and 
providing v90 dialup speeds for those who couldn't get broadband. Add to this 
the cost of "oops, last years technology isn't good enough, for X amount per 
system, you can replace it all for this years technology."

Of course the worst financial hit that WILL be reflected in DSL speeds, pricing, 
and QOS is CALEA packet intercepts by far. 98% of my tasks are on hold until May 
  15th while I redesign and replace equipment across the board. Half the vendors 
don't even support CALEA directly, and if not for Cisco, I'd be up a creek 
without a paddle. As it is, everyone I've talked to has pretty much said that 
they won't be compliant to the letter of the law (though 99% is better than 
nothing). I just watched a telco just now getting into the broadband business 
get slapped with CALEA fees. $400-$600/mo may not seem alot (and is cheap even 
for many of the trusted 3rd parties), but for a startup service that may have 
1-10 customers initially, it's a complete loss and will still be a large chunk 
of profits when the most the area can sustain is 400-1000 subscribers (being 
generous as the one I'm thinking of only has 1500 phone subscribers).

-Jack