SSLSTL
join:2004-12-09
Saint Louis, MO | reply to jslik
Re: Still trying to figure out... Cable franchises in metro St. Louis area -
the Higher Education Channel (HEC) provides 50,000 college credit hours over television each year. 26,000 high school students are taking language courses via this channel. That creates community development, workforce training, and educational efficiency benefits. Furthermore, because (as another writer pointed out) public access offers training, St. Louis happens to have a rather thriving video industry here... many, if not most, of the card carrying union members got their start at a govt, educational or public access channel. So those channels have contributed to the local economy.
How would you like to be the citizen who does not get choice? These telcos have received (and still get) huge subsidies for POTS "universal service". I for one am not thrilled about large and rich corporations demanding the use of public property in order to serve
90% of "high value" subs (who spend over $160 month)
35% of "medium value" subs ($110 - $160 month)
5% (yes five) of "low value" subs (who spend less than $110 a month)
See the SBC Investor Report of November 2004 regarding Project Lightspeed for more details.
If you want to be classified with the special privileges of a public utility, and receive seriously large subsidies paid by consumers, and use public property because it is faster and easier than getting permission from each parcel owner, then serve everyone in your footprint, and meet some community media needs. |
