A recent article (dated 7/11/2006) in the Atlanta Journal & Constitution noted that BellSouth plans to cease its status as carrier-of-last-resort. The company complains about how horrible it is to be the last choice for customers, and has began to warn builders that, if they choose to start with another company, they had better let their home buyers know that BellSouth wont be available should the consumer want to make the switch.

Let me make sure I understand this: BellSouth is letting people who wont care who provides the service in three years know that they are going to refuse to serve someone who actually wants them. Or, even clearer, BellSouth is telling consumers to shove it, we dont have to help you.

I am interested in this for several reasons. First, my husband has worked in the telecommunications business for years before forming his own low voltage wiring company, Redd Infinity. So, although we are no longer in that field, we still maintain interest. Even better, however, I am a defunct BellSouth customer who, after sitting on hold with them for three hours, called Comcast on my cell phone and switched my Internet to the cable company, rather than dealing with BellSouths shoddy customer service (this came after several problems over the course of a year).

Most interesting of all, however, is my perspective as a small business owner. I concede that there are some customers we just dont want. Chief among those are the price surfers those who are most concerned with price (research notes that less than 10% of customers list this as most important the rest search for quality and service). Basically, you can never make someone who cares only about the bottom line happy, and if you have tried several times and I highly encourage you try to win them over with your superior service and products then you may as well give up. As soon as someone underbids or undercuts you, they will be gone.

But BellSouth isnt waiting to be undercut. Instead, they are taking potential customers who have no role in the decision-making process and saying, Sorry, folks, we wont be offering you service. I have to tell you, if I move into a new neighborhood and the folks one block over have service, but BellSouth tells me they will not now or ever offer service because the builder didnt use them not only will I smile and say, Great, thanks for keeping my wallet out of your grubby paws, I will go on to tell everyone I know that BellSouth is exacting its revenge on the consumer. I will be persuasive. And so much the worse if I have been a long-time customer in good standing.

I understand that BellSouth is here to make a profit. We all are. But by pointing randomly at people and saying, Sorry, we will never serve you, due to decisions you didnt even make (other than choosing to buy a house in the wrong neighborhood, well, they make me wonder what their plans for the future are. If I were a builder, Id start building to spite them.

In the meantime, all that worry I had about monopolies with the merger of BellSouth & AT&T, well, I guess they are unfound. Never mind that these small companies will have to take the leavings of whatever business they can scrounge up. Now is the time for small telecommunication companies to run to the builders with the article or letter in one hand and a plan in the other. Lets kick BellSouth where it hurts, Id say. As a telecommunications business owner, Id be glad to know that BellSouth cant swoop in and steal away all of my customers like theyve done thus far. And as a builder, Id flaunt the fact that BellSouth refuses to do business with my neighborhoods. Maybe put up a huge sign: BellSouth doesnt want us, and we dont want them!

Seriously, this provides an edge for the small phone companies. Those who move now, especially in Georgia and Florida, where the law will be taking effect, stand a chance of surviving the forthcoming monopoly wannabe. My cheers go out to the little guy I think you can make it!