John Linton I wrote about my prediction for the FTTN tender almost as soon as that pack of ideological clowns was voted in to 'office'. I take no credit, and certainly no comfort, from being right on every point as anyone who had even a glimmer of understanding about Australia's communications marketplaces would have reached the same conclusions and said/written exactly the same things - which subsequently they did.
From which any reasonable person could conclude that Stupid Stephen and Crazy Kevin had, and have, absolutely NO knowledge or understanding of any aspect of the Australian communications industry - the only explanation for their ludicrous FTTN 'tender'.
So where are we at on this bright and sunny start to this long weekend?
Telstra has, oh that's a surprise, constantly, and ever more stridently and intransigently stated that it will not agree to share any new infrastructure it builds.
Terria has continually run a campaign in the media, by personal and professional lobbying and by the commissioning of 'independent' investigations that:
a) The cost of building an FTTN without Telstra is going to be over $A20 billion
b) That if Telstra builds an FTTN then the cost to the consumer will be double what is now paid
c) The timeframe for building such a FTTN is closer to ten years than five years
d) Only a break up of Telstra into wholesle and retail will alow any progress at all
So Terria et al say, in effect, "we can't build an FTTN so let Telstra build an FTTN but only if you break up Telstra".
While Telstra says, plainly, "If you try and break up Telstra you'll run out of time and money in the courts"
In the meantime, as I originally said, the bean counters in the big carriers have put a hold on any further investment in DSLAM roll out and there's an increasing lack of available ADSL2 ports around the continent.
And the reason? Again, just as I wrote way back just after the last election - ALL PARTIES (except Telstra) can't afford to have an FTTN built that will make their touted ADSL2 roll outs just a pile of rusting , unusable junk, but with seven year lease payments still to make on it.
So The Rudd, happy band of apparatchiks is right royally screwed - a crazy marketing dreamed up election sound bite has turned and bitten the wrong dog.
How will those two morons and their caucus colleagues talk themselves out of this very, very public total fiasco?
Fortunately I received this 'caucus leak' from an over worked public servant that gives the game away:
CRAZY KEVIN:"Well, now there's the real trick Stephen - I suppose a back away and let's forget the whole mess is out of the question? Hmmmmm yes, I thought you'd say that."
STUPID STEPHEN: Well, I guess we could blame it all on Telstra? Everyone except Telstra hates Telstra so that would work and we won't have to pay back the money they bought us the election with because they say they never did that.
CRAZY KEVIN: "Good thinking - that's the go then. Get me a press release prepared for, oh let me think, say late September, where you.....,"
STUPID STEPHEN: ".....But Kev, Maaaaaate..."
CRAZY KEVIN: "no,no Stephen not me, I'm God like in my ability to champion the causes of working families inerrantly and I fear even the 15% of the electorate below average intelligence people who got us elected might see this as some sort of, well I can't bring myself to use the right descriptive words, but you know Stephoen - some one may have to take one for the team."
Star Date September 30th 2008: "and so it came to pass somewhere where it definitely isn't Kansas any more that the first of that noble order of round table champions of the Australian working family shamefacedly left those hallowed portals never to be a cabinet minister again.
OK, sorry, it is a long weekend.
(Incidentally, I work, my wife works, four of my Australian children work - the other is at uni, - so why don't we qualify as one of Crazy Kevin's working families? I suppose that moron's definition of a working family is a family that votes for him.).