 
Noah Vail
Premium
join:2004-12-10
Lorton, VA | Um. Is Gas Broadband not Vaporware?
NV
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Abortion: Improves the Gene Pool! | |
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MrMoody
Carbon Based Lifeform
join:2002-09-03
Smithfield, NC | Re: Um. Ha, next they'll have BGL - Broadband over Gas Line | |
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Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02 | Re: Um. They already have, though they've been pretty quiet so far this year after all of those ridiculous promises in 2006:
»Broadband in Gas Lines | |
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MrMoody
Carbon Based Lifeform
join:2002-09-03
Smithfield, NC | Re: Um. Well, prop my mouf open an' use me for a waveguide. I missed that. | |
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| | | | Time4aNAP
Premium
join:2007-04-09
Des Plaines, IL
| Re: Um. said by tshirt  :It actually could work... Of course it can work! Any utility with established rights-of-way has hegemony in the real estate necessary to deploy any new to-the-home technology. That alone is 90% of the entire package.
Let's be realistic about this. The current utility infrastructure was made possible by the Industrial Revolution, FDR's work programs that got us out of the Great Depression, and postwar domestic growth after the two world wars. By 1970 there wasn't the will or the wealth in America to make way for new rights-of-way.
What we do have is an archeologist's treasure trove of abandoned vaults, conduits, pipelines and other buried structures that have been long-forgotten. Some day these will be the pilot guides for new excavation techniques that can reclaim these abandoned spaces. Meanwhile, natural gas companies are constantly replacing old, leaky pipelines with new ones. So as not to disrupt service for long periods of time, the new lines are often laid down right next to the old ones. And to save money, the old lines are left where they are, rather than go to the expense of removing them.
Here's the cool part: the pipes that are no longer suitable for carrying flammable gas under pressure are often still serviceable as conduit for fiberoptic cable. Since they're no longer going to be carrying a potentially dangerous gas, any leaks can be made watertight cheaply. The result, an instant fiber backbone at a minimal cost.
The last mile is the most realistic application for BiG, since it's unlikely that every street will have a suitable conduit, and it's doubtful that simply energizing a large metropolitan area with uncontrollable UWB would really work. As for reading meters, an RF system has been in use for a long time in many places. I don't see utilities, gas or others, scrapping working systems and installing new ones "to save money". Similarly, those places that still have people going to each meter will have to pay for the new meters themselves, at the same time that they're making the other major capital investment. Between that and the workers' unions, "eliminating meter reader positions" would have a high initial cost at the worst possible time, speaking financially. So no, the gas companies would be in no position to offer subsidies to anyone.
I really doubt that the gas companies are going to attempt to bring BiG to multi-tenant buildings until the technology has proven itself, and has all of the kinks and bugs worked out in single family home neighborhoods. It's important that the initial rollout is a success. Suburban subdivisions that were built all at once, with every street and house having the same physical (and therefore, hopefully the same electrical) characteristics are the obvious places to start because they face the fewest unknown variables. I also doubt that the meter, which is usually located outside for safety reasons, would be the most suitable place to put the CPE for broadband. | |
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ARGONAUT
got ping?
join:2006-01-24
New Albany, IN
1 edit | It's all "bla bla" until it happens. | |
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| Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
Premium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ | however using the utility and services tunnels and vaults the city owns to run the said fiber is a good deal. however gas would be con-ed owned and not NYC.
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[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports | |
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ninjatutle
Premium
join:2006-01-02
San Ramon, CA | Worry about broadband later, fix smell and rats 1st If they had a need to be online, they're already online. | |
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bmn
? ? ?
Premium,ExMod 2003-06
join:2001-03-15
hiatus
| Broadband still a luxury... It is WAY to early in the game to be classifying it a utility. In ten or twenty years, yeah, it probably will need to be a utility since the world is becoming more connected.
Right now though, no.
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Prove it...
Save the Internet Time (NTP) service, use the pool. | |
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| jersey7
join:2007-05-14 | Re: Broadband still a luxury... I disagree. Broadband is becoming a much needed utility right now. At least it should be in the wealthiest nation in the world... | |
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| | keyboard5684
join:2001-08-01
Youngsville, PA | Re: Broadband still a luxury... China? They already have it. | |
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GOLFnSUN
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
 ·Comcast
| BB not a utility .... debate over whether broadband should be considered a utility and doled out to all city residents, possibly for free. .... but even if it could be considered a utility, why should it be free. Electricity and water isn't free.
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Internet News
My BLOG
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| | Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
Premium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ | Re: BB not a utility .... not to mention here in the US we will never see any more atomic energy since its taboo due to tinfoil hat types.
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[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports | |
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ARGONAUT
got ping?
join:2006-01-24
New Albany, IN | Re: BB not a utility .... Yucca Mountain can only hold so much. 
Plus that would make a great target for "the black hats" wouldn't it? | |
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MuniNYCFbr
@rcn.com | Re: BB not a utility .... A proposal for Municipal fiber optics for NYC (dont know what extent yet) for $59 for 100/100 speeds is being proposed. | |
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jslik
That just happened
Premium
join:2006-03-17
clubs:
| said by GOLFnSUN :debate over whether broadband should be considered a utility and doled out to all city residents, possibly for free. .... but even if it could be considered a utility, why should it be free. Electricity and water isn't free. I do agree there. Costs have to be picked up by somebody, and I don't think folks are going to sign up for some ad-filled access scheme or higher rates for other utilities to float free broadband. Plus the incumbents would pitch holy heck. 
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If they told you wolverines would make good house pets, would you believe them?
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| jbskaggs
join:2004-10-15
Hickory, NC | I disagree and agree. While broadband is a utility, it does not need to be given free.. It should be made at a price that people can afford. | |
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Fox McCloud
Crazy like a fox.
join:2006-07-23
 ·Embarq
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
| said by GOLFnSUN :debate over whether broadband should be considered a utility and doled out to all city residents, possibly for free. .... but even if it could be considered a utility, why should it be free. Electricity and water isn't free. I agree with you, TCH; I think that the only reason it should be classified as a utility is so that it forces the broadband companies (minus satellite) to offer everyone in the US some form of broadband Internet access....
However, making it free? Pshh, no.
no, in relation to NYC and only NYC? Same argument. | |
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raye
Premium
join:2000-08-14
Orange, CA | Perpetual state of uncontrollable flatulence Are these folks actually on the city payroll? | |
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robertfl
Premium
join:2005-10-10
Mary Esther, FL | Rural Areas first Let's get this in rural areas first. NYC has broadband already. I know people who live in VA who can't get it from Verizon.
We need to make TRUE broadband available to all where it will be profitable and affordiable.
-Rob | |
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fcisler
Premium
join:2004-06-14
Riverhead, NY
| run the MEDIUM Government subsidized fiber to everyone....
"Pick your provider" for the customer - with NO government "associated" providers. Flat rate "line charge" for the medium, and then - at the provider - their charge. Kind of like a local loop....but (and i love/hate the word) "regulated".
Lets see if that won't bring some competition....
Oh...one can dream...there's also so many flaws in that plan...but it's a general idea which keeps rolling around in my head....if everyones wired (and not wired to a company) and can chose WHICH provider they want.... | |
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59126125
Premium
join:2006-01-21
clubs: | Re: run the MEDIUM I'm too lazy to look it up right now, but pretty sure that is what Utah is doing with the UTOPIA program. | |
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Draganta
join:2004-12-16
Oakland Gardens, NY
1 edit | A Company Offering This Service One company will be offering this service. I better clean up before the installer comes by.
»www.google.com/tisp/ | |
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fixthetrains
@verizon.net
| priorities.. nyc should fix overcrowding on it's subways, and other stuff first.. and if some company wants to offer free wifi to the masses and absorb the cost.. that's okay too, but taxpayer money should go to improving quality of life issues first (affordable housing comes to mind), THEN look to enhance tourism, education, high tech industry growth in nyc. | |
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Gas, Electricity, Broadband
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