Do consumers have an alternative to the cable companies to get high-speed Internet access?
They can get high-speed Web access from such competitors as phone companies or satellite broadcasters. Both are rolling out technologies to offer fast Web connections–and customers can pick their own Internet provider. But cable today is typically faster than beefed-up phone lines and easier than satellite access. So, for now at least, it is proving more popular. Why are the cable companies against the idea of opening up their networks to competitors? Cable operators have spent $36 billion to upgrade their systems for such services as zippy Internet traffic. They say that’s all private investment and that they shouldn’t be forced to sell capacity on that network at cheap rates. AOL and other ISPs say they would pay a fair price to lease part of the cable system. Is it technically feasible for cable operators to offer consumers a choice of Internet providers? AT&T and others say they don’t have the technology to chop up their network and sell the pieces to thousands of competitors. Pho
