| |
Municipal Fiber and local solutions.Bigger isn't always better, it just allowed for bigger mistakes in the tech bubble. All the theory about last mile costs is just BS. Few non-incumbents have deployed last mile access with a sensible plan, and those who have were not expensive. Even if $1500 per household is correct, that is only $150 billion to wire every household in America. That is only 40% Microsoft's value, and only 3% of the $5 TRILLION that was wiped out when the tech stocks collapsed.
Tacoma Power's "Click" system is cheaper and better than the incumbants, allows competition, and wasn't expensive. Muni fiber can work in the public interest many other ways. Tacoma wanted to attract business, jobs, and improve its image as a dying city. "America's most wired city" is meeting those goals, and providing residents with low cost high quality internet and TV. Phone service, alarm signals, remote meter reading and other services can be carried on the same fiber. Local solutions linked to existing networks makes the most sense. The inefficient low value incumbants are dinosaurs holding back progress. We don't owe them a living. |
