[LINK] An offer that you can't refuse

[David Boxall]

The USG was John Howard's way of conning the electorate into allowing 
him to privatise our telecommunications infrastructure. In that, it 
worked. In maintaining equitable access to services, it failed.

Government is responsible for ensuring equity of access to services. 
Government has shown conclusively that it can't enforce that obligation 
if the private sector is involved. It's now time to take back our 
infrastructure.

<https://www.facebook.com/groups/BIRRR/permalink/623583624516995/?comment_id=623613954513962>
> ... is it true that people who have telstra NGWL have signed away 
> their access to the USG???
> ...
> yes it is
> ...
> ... It's what they told us at the time although we had no choice in 
> the matter. Its a long story but essentially the old copper line had 
> already been cut by telstra without our knowledge or consent....
> ...
> I wonder, would giving us no choice have been a violation of the USG????
In criminal circles, there's a tradition of "making an offer that you 
can't refuse". I guess Telstra is showing its true colours.

For those who may not know, NGWL is a cheap way of wirelessly providing 
basic voice services. Telstra is increasingly allowing old 
cable-in-the-ground land lines to degrade, then "offering" NGWL as a 
substitute. If the people had the option of voting out of office those 
responsible, then we'd be in a position to demand that copper be 
replaced with fibre, instead of wireless.

-- 
David Boxall                    |  Illegitimi non carborundum.
                                 |  (Don't let the bastards
http://david.boxall.id.au       |  grind you down.)