Level 3 blames Internet slowdowns on Technica

Mon Mar 24 03:20:33 UTC 2014

I think I understand what you're saying -- you believe that RLECs that don't
have to provide UNE's are exempt from competition.  I guess I don't see the
lack of that requirement meaning that there's no competition -- it just
means that the kind of competition is different.

Frank

-----Original Message-----
From: Naslund, Steve [mailto:SNaslund at medline.com] 
Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2014 10:16 PM
To: Frank Bulk
Cc: nanog at nanog.org
Subject: RE: Level 3 blames Internet slowdowns on Technica

Many rural LECs are not required to provide unbundled network elements.  As
a network provider you can resell their service but they are not required to
provide unbundled elements necessary to compete against them as a facilities
based provider.  So, for example, in Alamo Tennessee or Northern Wisconsin
you can get a T-1 from a competitive carrier that resells their services but
you cannot get competitive POTS service.  You can buy DSL service from
anyone but they are reselling the RLECs DSL access services not just running
on their cable pairs.  One of the biggest players that specializes in being
a rural LEC is Frontier Communications.

Yes, there are wireless carriers and satellite providers but especially in
rural areas they are not a real viable alternative for high speed data since
we know the characteristic of satellite service and WISPs have the same
density problem in providing service in rural areas.  It is hard for a WISP
to be profitable when you only have a handful of customers per mile.  Same
formula, low density, long distances, high infrastructure per customer cost
for the WISP.

Steven Naslund
Chicago IL

-----Original Message-----
From: Frank Bulk [mailto:frnkblk at iname.com] 
Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2014 10:08 PM
To: Naslund, Steve
Cc: nanog at nanog.org
Subject: RE: Level 3 blames Internet slowdowns on Technica

Not sure which rural LECs are exempt from competition.  Some areas are
effectively exempt from facilities-based (i.e. wireline) competition because
it's unaffordable, without subsidy, to build a duplicate wireline
infrastructure.  There are also wireless carriers and WISPs the compete
against RLECs, as well as satellite providers.  I'm not aware of any
exclusivity.

Frank

-----Original Message-----
From: Naslund, Steve [mailto:SNaslund at medline.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2014 9:00 PM
To: Joe Greco
Cc: nanog at nanog.org
Subject: RE: Level 3 blames Internet slowdowns on Technica

<snip>

In a low density area you can never fund a build out which is where
universal access charges came from and the reason that rural LECs are exempt
from competition.  In return for building a network that is not profitable
easily they get exclusive access to sell services on it to give them a
chance.  Will your NRC be reasonable anywhere outside a major metro area?

<snip>

Steven Naslund
Chicago IL