U.S. Broadband Starts To Speed Ahead

When I read: "...the Federal Communications Commission has created a bold plan..."

I get that sinking feeling associated with the phrase "I'm from the government and I'm here to help".

Lord, please save me from those who want to save me.

In my case, they could help me more by requiring local governments to permit competition in cable and other telecommunication services. Where I live, broadband is available from the same company that provides phone and TV cable service, and it is the only company that the county has permitted to serve the area. The same company also has an exclusive arrangement with one of the satellite providers. So there is very little competition here and much of the service is pretty sucky. Less that two miles away the neighboring county has permitted multiple cable and broadband operators. So if one provider is sucky, at least an individual has other options.

I understand the sentiment, but let me share this:

My sis-in-law lives less on a well-populated road less than 2 miles from the city limits of a town of 45,000 (one of 3 similary-sized towns within 10 or so miles). The town and some areas of the county (depending on location) are served by two cable providers and of course DSL.

And yet, she can't get anybody to extend broadband her way. Even 3G is spotty and unreliable. When questioned, all the companies say they're investigating expansion but have no idea when or if they'll ever do so.

So I tend to support efforts to either lend a hand or put a boot to the seat of companies to encourge service expansion. For some "rural" folks, even a monopoly is preferable to no service at all.

"...the Federal Communications Commission has created a bold plan..."

That is the bait, to prep you that the FCC (aka government) that to carry out this unspecified bold plan is that we have to tax the internet usage......yes I do love it whan a plan comes together.

p911

When the state of Maine started supplying laptops to every eighth grader, the infrastructure suddenly had a new focus. It's not the greatest but a large percentage of the state now has access. Supply and demand is always a driving force for change. So for places that just don't have access it's a business decision due to demand not technology, increase that demand you get access. Now the issue of bandwidth and speed of that access is another whole issue...also driven by demand...which IS coming fast.

my humble opinion...

They've got to get you all on the net soon, else how can they spy on you?
Del