Interesting People mailing list archives
Re: Broadband Plan ---
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:45:38 -0500
Begin forwarded message: From: Rahul Tongia <tongia () cmu edu> Date: January 10, 2009 12:58:22 PM EST To: dave () farber net Cc: ip <ip () v2 listbox com>, Larry Press <lpress () csudh edu> Subject: Re: [IP] Re: Broadband Plan --- Reply-To: tongia () cmu edu Dave,(1) I wholeheartedly agree that we need way more fiber, but (2) we may be able to do much more with existing infrastructure as well.
I write about how/why DSL is way overpriced in urban markets re. (2) on the link below. Re. (1) for many parts of the US, there is a relatively inexpensive way to get fiber - poles. Ariel fiber is quite cheap. The poles are there. Getting your hands on it is the challenge. E.g., in parts of Rural PA, there are 3 "utilities" that own about a third of the poles (cable, telephony, and power). They give each other access (sometimes regulated). The problem is none of them (or the regulators) have figured out (or ?wanted to figure out) how to manage fiber.
The claims of "safety issues" on electric poles and space requirements is hokey. There are optical fibers available that are embedded *within* electrical distribution cable. A GREAT solution IMHO.
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~rtongia/web2/FCC.html#FCC-Personal_Reactions [see a few paras down re. (1) and (2) Rahul David Farber wrote:
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 ---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?* 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… *Larry Press ------------------------------------------- Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/247/=now RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/247/ Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
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Current thread:
- Re: Broadband Plan --- David Farber (Jan 10)
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- Re: Broadband Plan --- David Farber (Jan 10)
- Re: Broadband Plan --- David Farber (Jan 10)
- Re: Broadband Plan --- David Farber (Jan 10)
- Re: Broadband Plan --- David Farber (Jan 10)
- Re: Broadband Plan --- David Farber (Jan 11)