CNet has an interesting article on "naked DSL". Basically, there are two camps here - the consumer camp which wants the ability to unbundle DSL from phone service, and then the phone companies/DSL providers which want to force you to pay for phone service in order to get DSL. The FCC is stuck in the middle determining which way to go, evaluating consumer interest and competition against a corporation's "right" to offer products and services it wishes. Of course, the FCC has a say in all telecom matters, so phone companies don't have as many rights as your typical corporation.
I personally cut my landline years ago when I switched to a VoIP service provider, namely Vonage. I have a cellphone as my home backup in case my broadband connection goes down, so I have no need for a landline. I went with cable broadband and not DSL, but if I had chosen DSL, I certainly wouldn't need 3 phone services (Vonage, cellphone, landline). I'd be pretty peeved if SBC forced me to pay for a landline phone service that I never used just to get DSL broadband access. If I didn't have cable broadband in my area and had to get DSL instead (& forced to use their landline phone service), I probably would not have gone with Vonage as my phone provider, since I would have had to pay for a landline anyway.
Let's hope the FCC rules in favor of forcing the phone companies to unbundle DSL broadband from phone services. It seems to be the most logical and fairest decision to ensure that the phone companies don't hold consumers ransom to their phone offerings. According to CNet, it does indeed appear that the FCC will be ruling in favor of unbundling DSL very shortly. See the full CNet story here:
http://news.com.com/Source+FCC+to+dress+naked+DSL/2100-1037_3-5627726.html
Naked DSL
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This has a been a concern of mine. I can't get cable, so I'm stuck with an SBC line and DSL. As soon as cable is available (an issue with my apartment complex), then I'm switching, IF CABLE IS NOT MORE EXPENSIVE than DSL + Phone line. Cable can get pretty darn expensive in and of itself.
Anyway, I'm tired of the Bells gouging customers. So, regardless of FCC rules, it will all work itself out in the marketplace for knowledgable customers who can make a wise decision. Thank God for cable competition (and vice versa) or we would all be paying Microsoft $75 a month for internet.
Am I misreading the Cnet article? I think it says that FCC will strike down the unbundling requirements levied by some states and not as you say that they will be ruling in favor of unbundling DSL.
Aswath,
I think I did misread the end of the article. I must have scanned the article too quickly. I guess my eyes refused to believe that the FCC would remove a restriction that favors consumers over the Baby Bells. One of the FCC's jobs is to protect customers from monopolies in the communications arena.
So my sentence, "According to CNet, it does indeed appear that the FCC will be ruling in favor of unbundling DSL very shortly" should read, "According to CNet, it does indeed appear that the FCC will be ruling against 'forced' unbundling DSL very shortly."
Thanks for catching that.