Allowing these corporations to control distribution is how we got in this pickle to begin with. There should be a national strategy for communication networks and the carriers should remain carriers only. I'm sure if RHP could only drive his Canary on some roads that offered Caddy Gas because of exclusive contracts made in Washington he may be driving a VW who's cars can go anywhere on any gas. The argument that the industry will not be innovative is the default argument they all make for everything including healthcare. The idea that one needs to go to a certain doctor, in only a predetermined location because of exclusive contracts has to stop. The only innovation is how the exclusivity is contracted, the rest is horse feathers brought to you by over stuffed executive who get bonuses for the smoke and mirrors they design. 30 miles out of Metro Tampa you can not have broadband, that is what exclusive contracts has done to the internet. The Cable and Telecoms divided up regions and the they choose who gets broadband by a population formula. No other carriers can cross the line, because of exclusive contracts written behind closed doors. So for years areas have gone without broadband because we let these companies be exclusive. Built into the exclusivity is price fixing that is supported by investors with insatiable appetites to make more money for doing nothing.
The design of the cellular network should have been national, just like the roads. Here's the Cell Network, now build a Phone.
This system works far better in other places and as long as we continue down this path we will fall behind while paying for the luxury of 12th place.
A beginning perhaps... though it doesn't apply to all carriers. I'm thinking this is subtle pressure to get ATT to loosen its grip on the iPhone. Also they are trying to sidestep the government's attempt to break up these deals.
http://tech.yahoo.com/news/nm/20090717/tc_...izon_handsets_2
