[LINK] Perspectives (was: Telstra accounting separation)

[David Boxall]

Some interesting perspectives in
<http://www.budde.com.au/download/PaulsDesk/fromPaulsDesk.pdf>, 
including: "Infrastructure = natural monopoly (no competition) – 
needs ongoing government investments."  Which set me thinking.

If that finding is accurate, Australia's telecommunications 
infrastructure will impose a considerable financial load on the 
government, no matter how it is provided.  For most of Australia the 
infrastructure is not, of itself, a viable commercial proposition.  
The benefits are social, political, military and broader commercial - 
in other words, common wealth.  Governments' responsibility.  I 
wonder, does commerce have any place at all in provision of that 
infrastructure?

Private enterprise tends to cherry pick - servicing to excess in 
lucrative markets (remember the duplicate optical cabling fiasco), 
while leaving others to twist in the wind.  That merely siphons off 
profits that could be better employed in the common good.

What do you think?

====================================================================
David Boxall                     |  Dogs look up to us
david.boxall@hunterlink.net.au   |  and cats look down on us
                                 |  but pigs treat us as equals
                                 |            Winston Churchill 

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