how-to block ads
|
|
Uniqs:
164 |
Share Topic
 |
 |
|
|
 virteRabid Wombat
join:1999-11-18
Roanoke, VA | And the beat goes on.... Palo Alto citizens have been waiting for access to the local fiber loop for years. Their connectivity has been mired in political debates (PA City Council), technical holy wars (FTTHome vs. FTTCurb), and telco shenanigans (complaints, threats, and bribes). It's a like a prime-time soap opera - with a rich city whose glamorous citizens struggle with each other for power and position - and there is even, literally, a "wrong side of the tracks" class struggle.
The Palo Alto FTTH issue hasn't been the paradigm of neighborly co-operation. There is very little altruism in this exercise. Whether it's getting limelight, proving that their idea is better than someone else's, being a politician that gets re-elected, an telco that gets something for nothing, or even a resident that thinks he/she "deserves" 100 Mbps as if it is some sort of birthright - most of the people involved have their own personal agenda.
What's wrong with a personal agenda? Nothing - unless you're cloaking it in a Fiber-To-The-People attitude. Why not just tell it like it is, pick a delivery method that makes sense technically and economically, get a couple or three ISPs to maintain connectivity, and get on with it already? The fiber has been in the ground for almost five years pretty much just sitting dark.
So why am I so anxious about this? Because time's-a-wastin', man. There needs to be a high profile example that a locally provided broadband solution can be a successful alternative to telco mediocrity and indifference. It needs to happen soon because we have legislation and decision making going on in the U.S. government that could hand the keys to the candy store to the telcos. That's the real agenda.
So, Palo Alto, get off you high horse and get your hands dirty before it's too late.
»www.cpau.com/fth/
»www.pafiber.net/ | | |
|
| said by virte:
The Palo Alto FTTH issue hasn't been the paradigm of neighborly co-operation. There is very little altruism in this exercise. Whether it's getting limelight, proving that their idea is better than someone else's....or even a resident that thinks he/she "deserves" 100 Mbps as if it is some sort of birthright - most of the people involved have their own personal agenda.
Hey, it sounds to me like you just described 75 percent of the people who post to DSL Reports--regardless of the topic! | |
virteRabid Wombat
join:1999-11-18
Roanoke, VA
| *shrug*
I suppose. I don't read each and every post but I think I know what you mean. However, we must keep in mind that there is a big difference between casual end-users, so-called "power" users, and folks that legitimately require a high-speed Internet connection.
Each of these groups and the people in them have their own agendas and ideas on what the Internet should be. As such, passions run from indifference to nit-picking obsessiveness. It all depends on the person and their expectations.
Given the debacle that is the broadband Internet market of the last two years, I am not surprised that there are people on DSLR with a chip on their shoulder and an attitude as big as Global Crossing's debts. The interesting thing about many broadband Internet consumers is that they seem to take all the bankruptcies, change-overs, and cut-off's personally - as if the industry is sticking it to each of them on purpose. When we hear of layoffs, Chapter 11 filings, dirty dealings, flagrant and gross misconduct, incompetent management on a daily basis and when all of that strikes at the very heart of the American economy it's difficult to avoid the feeling that crooks are ripping us off. Coming from that perspective you can bet your butt people are going to be angry and spitting venom.
DSLR is a perfect place for complaining because there are so many people who have been through the same things. Misery loves company.
The people involved with the Palo Alto FTTH/FTTC issue are not all jerks. It only seems that way because some of those that are jerks tend to be very vocal. Palo Alto is, as others have pointed out, a very nice little city - I should know, I used to work there and I was born in the Bay Area. However, I tend to get very frustrated when a community effort that has a very good idea behind it gets all fouled up by...well, assholes. There is no other way to say it that can express how I feel. The Palo Alto fiber project could have and should have been researched and rolled out by now. Committees, Palo Alto's in particular, suck. Why? Because it's a bunch of smart people who become stupid when put into the same room together.
I reserve my anger and vitriol for the assholes of the world.
[I edited this for grammar and content - virtee]
[text was edited by author 2002-02-23 16:25:01] | |
|
