From: Don Lively [donlive@pacbell.net] Sent: Monday, February 10, 2003 12:43 AM To: bellsys@bellsouth.net Subject: Hoffberg message Hi Dave, Thanks the flattering comment re my '83 "pout piece" re divestiture. First, you are most welcome to use the material in your "historian" work. I'm so glad that omeone is leaving a trail on this once womderful "social contract" (abrogated by the DC social engineers). During my two different ATT HQ hitches, I got to know a lot of Bell South guys. Despite their ability to lull colleagues from elsewhere with those good old boy drawls, I always found your company to be among the best run in the System. Only two names now really pop up on my ancient radar screen...Luther Gilbert and Dick Snelling. In your "historian archiving" role, I don't know if you encountered several fine books on history of the industry (they are described in one of the attachments). I consider as "telcom treason", what was done to unwind that which old Theodore Vail worked out with the DOJ via the Kingsbury Commitment. I've enclosed a couple of later scribblings re this - i.e., just for your interest. I also updated and proofed the "epilogue" to the '83 essay. This, as a result of getting involved with some grass roots effort by a former SBC splicer's wife (from Palmdale, CA). She has a great self-taught web page I'm sure you'd enjoy..... I got connected with her after hearing SBC's Calif. VP-HR speak at a retiree luncheon, about the upcoming 11,000 headcount force cut - it, plus increase in retiree med benfit costs. All, connected to the '96 Telecom Act and its requirement that ILECs (incumbent local exchange carriers) lease CO and distribution facilities at "wholesale" to CLECs (competitive local exchange carriers). "Wholesale" being about 60% of what it costs to build and maintain the facilities (and, that rate being set by state PUCs under a FCC model called TELRIC - total estiamted long range incremental cost). This note has turned out to be more than just an OK to use the "Insanity" item for whatever purpose you choose. In addition to it, you'll find a commentary I submitted to the WSJ - they didn't bite, so I'm redoing for my local Knight Ridder paper. Again, glad you are doing the historian job. Now, if we could just put some of those DOJ and FCC clods away for treason. Best regards, Don Lively