  asdfdfdfdfdfdf
@Level3.net
| reply to Not So Fast Re: My .02
quote: Sorry, but we don't need to open up yet another subsidy program,
Does this group advocate subsidies as the primary way of accomplishing this? Subsidies are only one possible way. Aggressive action to increase competition is another. Sensible regulation is another. Still we have public subsidies of other basic infrastructure, like roads, so the idea isn't outrageous.
quote: to bring "World Class" (whatever that is)
Generally when one says world class one means comparable to the best that other countries offer.
quote: to the folks who choose to live in the middle of nowhere.
It seems to be impossible for people to grasp that many of the people who have no broadband options are not in the middle of nowhere. They are in new building development on the outskirts of town.
quote: They can afford to pay a bit more if they want higher speeds.
This assumes that they have the option to buy. For significant numbers there still are NO real broadband options (except perhaps the woefully inadequate satellite option which is no substitute for real broadband like cable, dsl, wireless.)
quote: It would be nice, if we could return the last-mile to regulated status, as a fat pipe only, and let vendors compete for services offered over that pipe. But I think that opportunity has passed.
I agree this is one possible legitimate approach. The opportunity hasn't really passed. There is just no political will to do it at present.
quote: There isn't much that a 100M connection will provide, over a 128kb connection, as it pertains to economic development.
There are certainly diminishing returns to ever faster speeds. Will you agree that society should find a way to see to it that everyone has the possibility of buying a 128kb connection that is reliable, reasonably priced(not necessarily as cheap as in major population centers but not outrageous), and a valid substitute for wireline broadband such as cable or dsl? This is still a dream for significant numbers of people. |