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April 18, 2005
Shut Up And Pay, Peasant
Posted by Dana Blankenhorn
In a remarkable interview with Todd Wallack published this weekend in the San Francisco Chronicle, Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg (left) reveals the arrogance and contempt for competition inherent in the Bell System.
Municipal WiFi? "One of the dumbest ideas I've ever heard," he said. "It sounds like a good thing, but the trouble is someone will have to design it, someone will have to upgrade it, someone will have to maintain it and someone will have to run it."
Exactly. Someone else.
Seidenberg also showed outright contempt for customer demands. "Why in the world would you think your (cell) phone would work in your house?" he said. "The customer has come to expect so much. They want it to work in the elevator; they want it to work in the basement."
As to the company's stiff cancellation fees, which have drawn the ire of California regulators, Seidenberg was equally blunt. "We invest in the business and have the best service. But when you sign up with us, we'd like you stay with us." (I like that word like, don't you?)
In fact, Seidenberg's contempt for the states is complete. Given that the Bells now have a lock on the FCC, throw away the key. "The first thing we'd do is pre-empt the states,'' in a rewrite of the telecomm laws. "That's priority No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3."
All this while U.S. broadband penetration continues to fall behind the rest of the world. Enhance the monopoly that failed you, make it ironclad, guarantee its dominance.
Like I said, arrogance. When you're such a bully that you brag on it, you have gone beyond Clueless.
Comments (5)
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Dana Blankenhorn has been a business journalist for over 25 years and has covered the online world professionally since 1985. He founded the "Interactive Age Daily" for CMP Media, and has written for the Chicago Tribune, Advertising Age, and dozens of other publications over the years.
1. Jesse Kopelman on April 18, 2005 12:55 PM writes...
"Why in the world would you think your (cell) phone would work in your house?"
Nice to see Ivan is still living in the 20th century. He and the idiots who ran AT&T Wireless into the ground must have paled around back in the Ma Bell days. Luckily for Verizon Wireless employees, Strigl may be just as evil, but he is nowhere near as stupid. I'm guessing any that read the chronicle article are hoping the spin-off finally happens and soon.
Permalink to Comment2. simon on April 18, 2005 10:46 PM writes...
Until we Americans permit the market to operate in the Telco space we will continue to hear this type of contempt and deserve it. California consumers deserve this attitude given the manner in which they seek to control markets for their own enrichment.
Permalink to Comment3. Connie on April 19, 2005 09:37 AM writes...
What Seidenberg failed to mention is that subscribers - both individual and business - have options to enable wireless coverage where their cell phones and wireless devices are used most – indoors. No matter how good the outdoor macro network coverage is, indoor coverage is always going to be an issue due to building materials and location - it's just not RF friendly. This issue will become more prevelant especially as more Americans "cut the cord" and go completely wireless. If wireless carriers are counting on this cutting the cord trend to continue, coverage at home will have to be addressed. More than price or functionality, coverage is subscribers want – and they aren’t always getting it.
Despite Seidenberg's comments, carriers like Verizon Wireless ARE working with vendors that specialize in indoor coverage to ensure their customers to have coverage where they use their wireless devices the most – at home and at work. Carriers can’t afford to provide coverage in every home across America, but consumers and enterprises are now realizing there are carrier-approved solutions available that they can purchase to improve their indoor wireless coverage problems and maximize their wireless service plan.
In fact, the San Francisco Chronicle itself is one of hundreds of companies and individual subscribers that has turned to Spotwave Wireless, to improve indoor coverage.
Permalink to Comment4. Kristopher White on April 19, 2005 07:02 PM writes...
"Can you hear me now... laughing at you all the way to the bank?"
The most asine thing about this is that their own ad campaign tries to boost the idea that they CAN and ARE everywhere. They created the expectation and wonder why it's biting them in the arse?
Permalink to Comment5. David R. Fredrickson II on April 20, 2005 10:50 AM writes...
Amazing! I cant believe a CEO of a technology company is making statements limiting the scope of possibility for wireless connectivity! How can the stockholders sit by while this shortsighted buffoon makes feebleminded comments that could potentially hurt Verizon's image? Thank God for Capitalism and the Freedom of choice!
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