Self Regulation (was Re: New peering criteria)

[smd () clock org (Sean M. Doran)]

| I would imagine that such actions tend to irritate the hive of regulatory
| officials.  Self regulation would be one way to prevent such action.  

The answer is simple: have more lawyers than most jurisdictions
have civil servants.

q: what is a phone company?
a: it's a law firm with a side-interest in telecommunications
q: what do phone company facilities look like?
a: boxes with no windows stuffed with lawyers and an antenna on top
q: who has more employees?  a standalone ISP or a phone company's legal
   branch's Human Resources department?
a: that's not funny.  see you in court.
q: is it true that some phone companies' legal branches are revenue centres?
a: oh yes.  and don't forget that at least one IXC _literally_ 
   sued itself into existence.
 
Is there any serious and relevant regulatory authority which
is going to intervene in a contractual dispute between parties
which are NOT dominant in their industry?  

It seems to me that players like C&W face vigorous competition.

        Sean.

PS - can you tell how much i hate it when vaguely technical people
     pose ex cathedra about vaguely legal & regulatory issues?  
- --
Sean Doran <smd () clock org>