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 ravitalJust Another Pesky Independent Nh VoterPremium
join:2001-07-19
Merrimack, NH | Two problems Wow, I'm not crazy after all, I'm not the only one who's been thinking that broadband should be closer to a utility than a competitive service. Now I'm really worried:)
Two main problems I see here:
1. Upgrades. What happens with "next generation" systems? Who pays and how for adding capacity? Because like many here I was on a 14.4k modem a mere 10 years ago, and there is no indication that today's "state of the art" is going to be around a very long time before the next "big improvement nobody can live without" comes along.
I mean, there's only so many ways to deliver electricity, gas, water etc. and at some point or another these systems got stable enough for enough towns to invest in them. I sure hope towns that are considering it do some creative thinking ahead.
2. Customer service - tech support and the like. What do you do when your power or water is out? Turn on a battery-powered radio and listen for announcements, pick up the phone and check, etc. But there isn't much you can do.
What happens when you can't connect? Even a nanosecond glance at the ISP forums here on BBR will tell you it's a much different story. Towns need to be able to hire the competent (or better) professionals to provide the service and support.
As an aside, most reports from municipalities that have implemented their own FTTH show subscribers paying $15 to $25 LESS than what they paid for cable/dsl, and they get phone and TV on top of that to boot. Seems to me that if the towns actually kept charging the same amount that cable/dsl providers charge, they could use that money to employ the right professionals. Speaking for myself only, I sure wouldn't mind paying my town the same amount I pay Adelphia for better performance and service from people that are located in my area and actually give a darn. Just a thought.
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Proposed 37th Amendment: 10 years hard labor for anyone who uses the word "Closure" without a Medical Degree in Psychiatry. | |
 bear73Metnav... Fly The Unfriendly SkiesPremium
join:2001-06-09
Grand Forks Afb, ND | Man, you aren't the only one who's been thinking that. As far as usage, integration and what the Feds have been preaching for teh past few years in their war on terrorism pep rallies, it already is. It just hasn't been stated/accepted by the FCC and other regulatory agencies. Because then, how do you do it without putting out of buisness all the current providers? I don't think that you can. And noone in the govt. want's to be labeled as "one of them that killed 10,000 jobs".
Also, in the telecom and electricity beginning, it was a provate company that was granted a monopoly in return for being told how much profit he could make. In the beginning.
As for the concern for what to roll out, you can only go with what you have that's best at the time. After all, many of our utilities and networks are in MAJOR need for a rebuild. At this point it looks like ftth is what should be rolled out. Even if it's just the fiber that the town owns and leases out to the content providers.
OR the govt just hands out grants and says "Go and be fruitful! But you must have it done in a tenday and you may not make more than x% profit per y". I think it's this last item that THEY are looking to do.
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If ya gotta go, Go with a SMILE! | |
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