Giving Everyone Broadband
via NPR - Broadening the Reach of Broadband
Seems like many municipalities claim they want to give everyone broadband access (not just the wealthy zip codes). They want to treat broadband like a utility yet no one would want to pay their Internet access based on time spent or how much surfing they do. And no one wants to pay the true cost is takes to deliver Internet access to them so the cost is averaged out. It is amazing to me that a person at the end of the line in Northport pays the same for a 5 Mbps connection as does someone in downtown Traverse City. And 10 years ago a 5 Mbps cable modem in Northport would have seemed impossible.
Plus, just about everyone who wants it can get Internet access. If they cannot get DSL they can have a cable line run to them if they are willing to pay for it. Or, god forbid, maybe they'll have to use dial-up for their Internet access.
Broadband is not a right nor a lifeline service. The problem does not seem to be that the poorer areas are being missed (they're not if they're in a city center) but rather the decision makers like to live in remote areas but they want their broadband too. They cloak their desire for universal broadband as a service "for the children" or "for the poor people" but look at where these people live and see if it is simply that they want a high speed connection at their home in the woods or on the lake.
Seems like many municipalities claim they want to give everyone broadband access (not just the wealthy zip codes). They want to treat broadband like a utility yet no one would want to pay their Internet access based on time spent or how much surfing they do. And no one wants to pay the true cost is takes to deliver Internet access to them so the cost is averaged out. It is amazing to me that a person at the end of the line in Northport pays the same for a 5 Mbps connection as does someone in downtown Traverse City. And 10 years ago a 5 Mbps cable modem in Northport would have seemed impossible.
Plus, just about everyone who wants it can get Internet access. If they cannot get DSL they can have a cable line run to them if they are willing to pay for it. Or, god forbid, maybe they'll have to use dial-up for their Internet access.
Broadband is not a right nor a lifeline service. The problem does not seem to be that the poorer areas are being missed (they're not if they're in a city center) but rather the decision makers like to live in remote areas but they want their broadband too. They cloak their desire for universal broadband as a service "for the children" or "for the poor people" but look at where these people live and see if it is simply that they want a high speed connection at their home in the woods or on the lake.
posted by Andy at 9:43 AM
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