| reply to zalternate
Re: ViaSat-1: Transforming Satellite Broadband said by zalternate:So what Hughes and WildBlue want is the government to pay for the user terminals and installs... Based upon my scanning this topic recently, the rules for obtaining broadband stimulus funds will not be available until June. But, if these rules/evaluations are "prudent," I doubt if WB/Hughes will get a dime.
See this article: Broadband Funding Hopefuls Pair Up in Search of Stimulus Dollars
Do remember a satellite ISP cost consumers about twice as much as their city dweller using DSL/Cable. And if the purpose of this broadband stimulus is to bring about more users with faster speeds, one can only wonder how this will be when the cost will be much higher, otherwise, current users would jump ship overnight for these faster speeds.
Hence, if Hughes/Wildblue have to define how their new birds will assist consumers, via economic perspective, only the more affluent will be able to afford it (who are already onboard)...which means their plans don't assist Joe Six Pack families.
Hence, Wildblue/Hughes consumer pricing on these proposed birds may be above your typical users' pocket books, so if they ever got the money, it would not benefit common user. |
