Re: Broadband Plan ---

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Brett Glass <brett () lariat net>
Date: January 10, 2009 8:26:21 PM EST
To: Larry Press <lpress () csudh edu>
Cc: "dave () farber net" <dave () farber net>
Subject: Re: [IP] Re:  Broadband Plan ---

At 05:46 PM 1/10/2009, Larry Press wrote:

> > I wouldn't trust my local government to understand how to provide  
> > decent infrastructure, nor to maintain it adequately. They can  
> > barely maintain their own internal network adequately!
>
> But, if they had a stimulus funding, perhaps they could invest in  
> cluefull people.

None would want to work for the head IT person, who is said, by her  
employees and co-workers, to be something which rhymes with "witch."

> (I am reminded of Singapore, where government jobs have high status  
> and compensation and attract good people).
>
> I would also assume they would be smart enough to coordinate their  
> planning and investment with their customers -- you and the other  
> ISPs.

Nope. They'd favor large entities such as the phone company and the  
cable company. We know, because we once tried to bid on supplying them  
with bandwidth. They did everything they could -- in some cases,  
things that were legally questionable -- to ensure that only large  
companies needed to apply. In fact, in an attempt to keep me from  
bidding at all, they tried to impose a requirement that the service  
not be wireless.

> Since there are only three of you, I would think you and the local  
> government could work together.

We've completely given up on our local government. Again, they're  
incompetent and motivated purely by internal politics and empire- 
building. They won't even coordinate RF frequencies with us!

> Alternatively, could you and your fellow ISPs form a coop that  
> allowed you to share meaningful infrastructure?

My competitors are all from out of town or out of state. They are not  
collegial. They won't even return phone calls, much less cooperate.  
But even if they did, there's nothing that needs sharing. We're quite  
capable of building out our wireless network on our own. In fact, I  
have plans to install four new access points before spring, despite  
the freezing weather.

> I'm not trying to hassle with you, but looking for alternatives to  
> giving a bunch of stimulus money to Verizon, et al.

Why not try giving it to small business for a change?

--Brett Glass





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