Hmmm... well judging by the posts, the general consensus seems to be that open networks are a bad idea!! I'm hardly coming from a know-all position, so there'll be no need to tear me to pieces, k?
My comments-- well, I don't think that "network opening" was ever intended for small companies first of all. After all, they aren't the problem. It's the providers that continually consolidate that I believe it's being directed at.
Unfortunately, to some extent here, and a lot of everywhere, this typified "we" referred to isn't typical. I know that much from my own personal experience and reading the DBB and other forums that broadband experiences and availability can drastically differ. Maybe the simple solution *is* time, depending on one's faith in the invisible hand of free competition (assuming there is competition) (assuming there is a solution).
IIRC, prices have been raised a total $15 monthly for service here-- how biotchy is that!
It's hard to believe that the prices would be as low as the mentioned $10/month for the dial-up market if it weren't for the wide range of options available. I just checked with my old dial-up provider, ATT, and there prices haven't seemed to have changed since I gave it up years ago, and from what I understand, AOL has raised prices for their dial-up yet again. Prices don't seem to be going down much *generally* in the dial-up market, but it seems to be that it's the vast choice of services per se that would lead to lower pricing options?
Ferno, same thing, I take it that since you mentioned it in USD that it's in the US, but the good ol' USA covers a lot of ground.
Even if you're referring to something in Canada, same thing, why couldn't something like that if it's offered somewhere be offered anywhere? Without knowing the specifics, maybe the answer is practical, but I would hate the answer to be because nobody could have the opportunity.
Either that or: life sucks, and there's nothing you can do, so live with it.
