In this day and age of competition, it is difficult to ignore the battle before the Public Utilities Commission for an open market in three East Bay communities — Barrington, Bristol and Warren.
Full Channel Television has had the cable franchise here for years, but is now threatened by giant Cox Communications that is seeking the opportunity to compete in the market.
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Those affiliated with Full Channel want to require Cox Communications to install antiquated technology because that’s the letter of a law written 20 years ago, and never revised. Cox said newer technology can provide the same or better service and asserts that installation of an archaic system would be pure folly. We agree.
At issue, however, is not the technology but the whole notion of competition, and the ability of the mom and pop enterprise to survive when the competitor is a well-funded, well-equipped national brand. It is no different than when the mom and pop groceries were replaced by the supermarket and the supermarkets by the super supermarkets. It is no different than the onset of Wal-Mart and Target and the demise of Ann & Hope and Apex.
Like it or not, competition sometimes results in giants coming into a market, providing jobs and services, but forcing the little guy to either provide equal or better and unique services to the consumer, or face extinction.
It sounds like a foreboding prospect, but if you look at statistics you’ll find that Main Street USA has found a way to survive, and even thrive, while operating in the shadow of shopping malls and Wal-Marts. Contrary to popular belief, statistics show that Main Street USA is doing pretty well.
At Full Channel they argue that Cox has deeper pockets and can outspend Full Channel on promotion and services. If that is the case, and the consumer chooses it with better service, then that’s the choice the consumer will be able to make.
Sometimes competition is painful, and sometimes it changes the marketplace. But our whole economic system — with some few exceptions — is based upon the theory that competition breeds a better and more responsive marketplace.
