djrobx
join:2000-05-31
Valencia, CA
 ·PHONE POWER
 ·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T CallVantage
·Time Warner VOIP
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to rradina
Re: I know what ails the rural broadband market.
I can absolutely see the need to subsidize telephones. Direcway satellite broadband is not perfect but it's usable for the necessities (browsing, email, education and research, downloading software updates). No, you won't be playing FPS off of it, but I don't think America needs to subsidize FPS online play.
And yes, I have used DirecWay plenty. We have an office in Los Angeles that neither DSL nor cable service for broadband (yes, even in LA there are still unserved spots!) So they have DirecWay. It's not great, but it works. |
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Nuts
join:2006-04-27
Forest, OH | The company I work for will not reimburse home office users for satellite because it's no better than dial-up for VPN use. So no, it's not usable for all necessities. |
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LoneGreyWolf
Premium
join:2002-09-09
Bath, NY
clubs: 
| reply to djrobx
Not to mention that when your a family of seven, five of those seven being in school, that FaP comes up very quick.
For a normal sized family, say a family of 4, it may be usable, but with my family of 7, satellite wouldn't be feasible.
--
"The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep."
~By Robert Frost~ |
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rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO
| reply to djrobx
said by djrobx  :I can absolutely see the need to subsidize telephones. Why? Do we subsidize other utilities? |
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batterup
I Can Not Tell A Lie.
Premium
join:2003-02-06
Netcong, NJ
clubs:
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| said by rradina :said by djrobx :I can absolutely see the need to subsidize telephones. Why? Do we subsidize other utilities? Yes, electricity was the first.
»www.usda.gov/rus/electric/
The Bell System used to subsidise local service with long distance. Now the government taxes US to subsidise local service. |
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rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO
| This sounds decidedly different from USF. USF is a subsidy to offset the apparent high cost of delivering communications to sparsely populated areas. The link you cited mentioned loans to fund the development of rural electric infrastructure. A loan is a lot different than the outright USF welfare program.
This following FAQ entry was also in the linked site and all I can say is RIGHT ON! If you want to live in the sticks and enjoy a modern convenience, be prepared to write a check!
Question: I want to build a house out in the country where I have bought some land, but the electric cooperative/utility wants to charge $20,000-$50,000 to get a line out to me. Does USDA Rural Development have a program to help pay for the connection?
Answer: The cost for connection to a home or business is an issue between the utility and the individual concerned. Working with neighbors and the utility concerned may be the best approach to resolving the connection problem. If it can be demonstrated to the utility that there is growth potential that will level out the fixed costs, the utility may be willing to share more of the initial outlay for connection.
Why is this different for phone and why don't we have the same response for high speed network connections?
What is the mindset of people that always want someone else to help them pay for their stuff? |
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