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1.  

   Finally

   

   munich, Jul 31st, 2003 @ 8:40am

   
   

   Someone with deep pockets fights back. Not that SBC/Pac Bell cares about the consumer (I have SBC and am not a huge fan of them), but I think SBC is fighting this action to prevent a precedent where SBC ends up with whole teams of people serving subpoenas from the music, movie, etc. industries.
   
   Or, if we want to be really jaded, we could say that we know that SBC, which sells DSL at a pretty hefty mark-up, knows that music downloading has been one of the "killer aps" for people upgrading from 56K modems (along with porn, ofcourse). By making music swapping easier, demand for broadband increases and SBC benefits.
   
   I vote on the first analysis (cost savings) over the second (increasing revenue). Either case, I would try to follow the money.

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2.  

   No Subject Given

   

   Anonymous Coward, Jul 31st, 2003 @ 8:47am

   
   

   I agree totally with munich.
   
   Pretty much the only reason people get broadband is to download large amounts of data on P2P.
   
   Why bother upgrading from 56k if the evil MPAA/RIAA sue you for using your bandwidth?

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3.  

   Re: No Subject Given

   

   LittleW0lf, Jul 31st, 2003 @ 10:10am

   
   

   Pretty much the only reason people get broadband is to download large amounts of data on P2P.
   
   Maybe in your small, insignificant world, but I have broadband and the only reason I have it is to quell the intense pain I get when loading Techdirt via 56k modem takes 20 minutes. Speed for Nerds. That is why Cox gets my $30 a month, so I can get a quick hit of speed after a long day in an office with 100mBps (or more) thoroughput to the internet.

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4.  

   Munich gets it...

   

   KevinK, Jul 31st, 2003 @ 10:35am

   
   

   SBC does not do anything unless it makes Ed Whitacre a wealthier man... For example SBC has decided to cut costs by eliminating bottled water for employees, they force managers to work 12+ hour days and they are required to work holidays, I mean really it is a wonderful company. Oh and if a customer moves locations they immediately send your account to collections because they have found that some companies do not pay their bills promptly during a relocation- they don't wait until the bill is due they automatically assume everyone is out to screw them, the list is never ending. And please when do we get competition on DSL rates???

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5.  

   Re: Munich gets it...

   

   Munich, Jul 31st, 2003 @ 11:52am

   
   

   Thanks Kevin. My favorite comment you have is "when will we get competition on DSL rates". I pay something like $65/month for SBC DSL and have my friends with cable modems laughing at me (I have satellite and don't want to hook up cable to my home just for internet).
   
   In the original issue of the RIAA practices, perhaps the political backlash has started:
   
   Coleman launches inquiry into RIAA's piracy crackdown
   Associated Press
   
   WASHINGTON - Sen. Norm Coleman on Thursday began an inquiry into the recording industry's copyright lawsuits against online music swappers, saying the tactics could ensnare innocent people.
   

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6.  

   Re: Munich gets it...

   

   Jack Ass, Jul 31st, 2003 @ 2:53pm

   
   

   It's a sad state of affairs when you find yourself rooting for the local baby bell. Or worse yet, when the baby bell who is by it's very nature pure evil, is defending your rights against satan himself. I would think it were funny if it wearen't so sad.

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7.  

   Re: Munich gets it...

   

   jeff, Jul 25th, 2004 @ 4:36pm

   
   

   Excuse me, but the last time i checked the phone bill was absolutely the cheapest bill I pay. The increase in basic telephone service has been so minimal over the years that u can still get basic phone service in most areas for 18.00 bucks. Hell i can barely get my car washed for 18.00 bucks anymore. And this big mark up in DSL where does that come from ,well that comes from someone who thinks dsl is just basically a modem over an exissing phone line. Well quiet the contrary ,the phone company has spent 10's of billions for DSL. Dslams to serve every 100 people cost $100,00.00 Also when dsl first came out the modems bell gave to their customers cost bell 500.00 a piece. DSL has not been a money maker for anyone. iT will probably be another 10 years before they see any profits.

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