Most businesses see skyrocketing demand as an opportunity. But in August, Bell Atlantic and three other RBOCs filed reports with the FCC seeking relief from Internet traffic that is growing so fast it's straining their networks. Their plea? "Usage-sensitive pricing."
Translation: they want to charge Internet service providers more for incoming lines. Right now, ISPs don't pay usage charges because their telephone lines are used only for incoming calls. Worse, say the Bellheads, is that data calls last longer than voice calls - causing more stress on RBOC equipment.
But usage-sensitive pricing isn't the answer. Instead, the Bell companies need to build a data network that can be used to efficiently carry Internet traffic. Unfortunately, they seem more interested in whining to the FCC than making smart capital investments.
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