Laura Unger
Premium
join:2007-02-28
Montclair, NJ
| We need a broadband map
Congress already directed the FCC "to determine whether advanced telecommunications capability is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion" in Section 706 the Telecommunications Act of 1996.They have failed to implement it and now we don't know who has what, where and at what speed. We need a reliable data base at the first step to develop public policy to address broadband deployment. Some communities are already doing it more locally, like ConnectKentucky. There are more ideas on this at »www.speedmatters.org. |
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bj novack
join:2007-03-22
| Gee, Laura Unger from Montclair NJ, the Heart of Telecomm Country, when I read at speedmatters.org all about how to get myself better broadband I was surprised to find this neat little oxymoronic phrase on the "principles" page. "The U.S. Must Preserve an Open Internet--
High speed, high capacity networks will eliminate bandwidth scarcity and will promote an open Internet. Consumers are entitled to an open Internet allowing them to go where they want when they want. Nothing should be done to degrade or block access to any websites. Reserving proprietary video bandwidth is essential to finance the build-out of high speed networks."
Reserving proprietary video bandwidth? That to me sounds like "the fast lane" that Ed Whitacre wanted to give us so AT&T could turn the internet into Bud TV and The Home Shopping Network. Oh yeah, real open internet. Uh huh.
Can we say ASTROTURF? |
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Laura Unger
Premium
join:2007-02-28
Montclair, NJ
| The "heart of telcom" country? If your point is that some places have more access than others, you're right. I have access to Verizon FIOS and DSL and Comcast and I pay way too much for what I have. The point is that many communities don't have those options; many families can't afford it. The build out is not going to happen by itself. The only way the internet will be be open is if it is fast, everywhere and has much more capacity for growth than we have now. Other countries pay incentives or give tax breaks for build-out. Just today it was announced that in Australia the Labor government has promised to spend $4.7 billion to build what it describes as a national broadband network in concert with the private sector. If you are so worried about an open internet, why don't you worry about how it will get built? |
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