What’s an Access Provider to do?

Jim McGee points out Martin Geddes‘s pointing out a paper from 2003 by Andrew Lippman and David Reed on “Viral Communications.” Mr. Geddes says,

It means the end game is already pre-determined. Centralised telecom won’t exist in its current form. Don’t hold long-dated bonds in network operators or their equipment suppliers.

There’s plenty of time to make money between now and when the game ends. The question is how long? And what do we do afterward? At least since Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad, 188 U.S. 394 (1886), if not since the dawn of commerce, corporations have not wanted to wrap up shop once they no longer have a purpose.

So, what are we to do? Become AT&T?