High-Speed Internet

Bravo to Shawn Hubler for seeing through the sham of “open access” (July 1). The telephone monopolies and AOL should be ashamed of using such a blatantly misleading term to describe their City Hall lobbying campaign.

“Open access” is based on a false premise. Cable modems work just like conventional modems. They are by no means “closed” to any Internet service provider. They can take you anywhere on the Web you want to go--even to AOL. The real question is why should any council member want to close the door to Internet competition when we have the opportunity to open up a new era in communications?

The City Council should be focused solely on which decision will bring high-speed Internet service to Los Angeles consumers quickest. If the council chases the cable companies out of the Internet business, the net result will be less competition and therefore installation of high-speed lines on the phone companies’ timetable.

GERALD FEIFER

Los Angeles