[IP] Re: Broadband Plan ---

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Larry Press <lpress@csudh.edu>
Date: January 10, 2009 10:29:13 AM EST
To: "dave@farber.net" <dave@farber.net>
Cc: ip <ip@v2.listbox.com>
Subject: Re: [IP] Obama's Broadband Plan ---

> * Placing bets on just how little change will occur, or more to the
> point about how much of our change ends up in the pockets of AT&T and
> Verizon… *


The administration is seeking rapid spending as economic stimulus, but  
we also need to look to the future.

For example, we need to encourage fiber in the last mile.  The OECD  
says FTTx is used in 45% of Japanese broadband connection, 39% in  
Korea, 19% in Sweden, 18% in The Slovak Republic, and 3% in the US.

The bad news is that we are behind some nations; the good news is that  
the telephone and cable companies do not own fiber connecting 100% of  
our homes and buildings ... yet.

We will eventually have a lot of fiber installed, but who will own it?  
Verizon?  We have seen how they use "their" copper "pipes."  Are there  
viable alternatives?  Ownership by local governments?  Coops?  Home  
and building owners?

Larry Press





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