THE INDEPENDENT FORUM

This week's Back Page is the first of a four part series from Steve Kraskin.

Whether it's nationwide Presidential politics or the telecom industry, "Change" is the theme, but words alone don't suffice. (Click here to read the most recent Back Page.)

Steve suggests that it's time for specifics and he offers an analysis of why "status quo" is not an option for the rural telecom industry. He thinks that the old rural "three-legged stool" based on end user revenues, access charges and USF is wobbly and unreliable, and he offers a new "three-legged stool." Parts 2, 3, and 4 of this series will address specifics for each of these three "legs."

Editor's note: Warning! This Back Page is 10 pages long.

We try to keep the Back Page articles to fewer than 6 pages. My thought is that unless it’s really better than the Gettysburg Address, why does it need to be more than 3000 words? I couldn’t convince Kraskin, to comply. What’s really ironic is that in this Back Page, he complains about “squeaky wheels” in the industry that “wax poetic.”

I tried to convince him to cut out four pages and one or two legs of his new three-legged stool model, but he persisted. I promise I’ll work hard to limit him to no more than 5 or 6 pages on each of his follow-up Back Pages!

Responses to the Back Page are invited and welcome. Send your responses and comments to Administrator@Independent-Tel.com and they will be posted at The Independent Town Hall.

K.A.E., the Editor