Making universal broadband service a reality

Avatard · 12-20-2009, 01:01 AM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20091218/cm_csm/269715

By the Monitor's Editorial Board The Monitor's Editorial Board
Fri Dec 18, 3:30 pm ET

This week, the Obama administration took its first step toward making high-speed Internet service available to everyone in America. It announced millions of dollars in grants and loans for broadband service in underserved communities across the country. But it didn’t act alone and that’s an important point. States kicked in. So did the private sector.

The Internet is as fundamental to US economic growth and productivity in this century as the telephone, electric power, and the National Highway System were in the last. The Web is both the dial tone and transport system of the modern age â€“ connecting people and ideas and opening a path to markets and services around the world.

Until this year, though, the federal government has been largely absent from the delivery of fast Internet service. That’s been the work of the private sector – the cable, satellite, and telecom companies. They’ve done a good job. Some studies show that nearly 90 percent of US households now have access to broadband.

But the private sector can’t do it all. Companies only go where there’s profit, which means that many poor neighborhoods, and rural and tribal areas don’t have access to a high-speed Internet connection. Once a leader in the Internet, the US ranks 15th in broadband market penetration. And compared with a country such as Japan, the average Internet speed in the US is a tenth as fast.

It’s time for the federal government to get involved, and this year, it did. Congress provided $7.2 billion of Recovery Act money to help reach the goal of universal, affordable broadband access. Wisely, it also required matching funds from states to augment this assistance.

This week, Vice President Biden announced the first recipients of the stimulus funds: $183 million to poor and underserved areas in 17 states, from Appalachian Georgia and rural Maine to native American areas in southwest Alaska. Other public funds and the private sector are contributing $46 million.

Congress has also required the Federal Communications Commission to come up with a National Broadband Plan, due in February. From a preliminary report released this week, the FCC looks to be on the right path. It says competition should be a “guiding principle” of any plan, because competition drives innovation and provides consumer choice. It also recognizes limited government funding and says federal help will have to be “leveraged with private sector investment.”

That seems to be the reality of the 21st century. The federal government simply doesn’t have the money to expand the Internet in the way it built Interstate highways or electrified rural areas. And government can’t always know which Internet technology to support. But there’s also no denying that universal, high-speed Internet service is as essential to American competitiveness as universal phone service has been.

Broadband for all will have to be a public-private partnership for now.

BobTheBiker · 12-20-2009, 08:15 AM

another freedom stolen very subtly. by providing broadband to EVERYONE, the govt can get an additional hand, and more access to private info, to monitor what goes on online. dont tell me its not true, because you know damned well it is.

Flexin · 12-20-2009, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobTheBiker

another freedom stolen very subtly. by providing broadband to EVERYONE, the govt can get an additional hand, and more access to private info, to monitor what goes on online. dont tell me its not true, because you know damned well it is.

BG??? Is that you?

James

Flexin · 12-20-2009, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobTheBiker

another freedom stolen very subtly. by providing broadband to EVERYONE, the govt can get an additional hand, and more access to private info, to monitor what goes on online. dont tell me its not true, because you know damned well it is.

They are making it available not providing it. So only the ones that buy it will have it.

James

Tmall · 12-20-2009, 08:28 AM

Don't put your private info online?

They sell extra thick hat edition aluminum foil these days too. You should be safe if you make a hat and don't use computers. Well, until they learn how to wiretap.. Oh, wait..

BobTheBiker · 12-20-2009, 08:55 AM

you're TOTALLY missing my point. by doing this, they'll be able to monitor who you talk to, what you say, and when you say it much easier. playing blind only works for so long.

Homeslice · 12-20-2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobTheBiker

you're TOTALLY missing my point. by doing this, they'll be able to monitor who you talk to, what you say, and when you say it much easier.

Uh, they probably already do.

http://online.wsj.com/public/article...377523845.html

askmrjesus · 12-20-2009, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobTheBiker

you're TOTALLY missing my point. by doing this, they'll be able to monitor who you talk to, what you say, and when you say it much easier. playing blind only works for so long.

Pentagon, Bomb, Jihad.

There. Now the Government is watching you too.

Happy now?

Dude, Google NSA.

JC

101lifts2 · 12-20-2009, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobTheBiker

you're TOTALLY missing my point. by doing this, they'll be able to monitor who you talk to, what you say, and when you say it much easier. playing blind only works for so long.

They do this now, but they need permission and it is much harder.

Do you think the government's intention is to provide "free" anything without some hidden agenda? More taxes, easy access to info?

My concern is that if the net is slow or down, how long are we gonna have to wait until its fixed? This is the government we are talkin about...

Smittie61984 · 12-20-2009, 11:49 PM

Too bad the private market didn't have a solution for broadband internet...

Looks like they even have parts of Alaska covered (even far north Barrow Alaska area).

Appalachian, Georgia? http://www.twowheelsonly.com/
Check out "Amenities" and look at the first thing they offer? If the evil phone companies only offered high speed internet to that area.

I also noticed on the map a big white spot near the Georgia/Florida line. Didn't know that Alligators needed high speed internet but guess I was wrong.

Oh yeah. See those tan spots on the Georgia coast? Those are the Georgia Islands that are federal protected. You are not allowed to lay a human foot on those islands, yet they do have coverage.

12-20-2009, 01:01 AM	#1
Avatard Crotch Rocket Curmudgeon Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Here to integrity Moto: Li'l red baby Ninja Posts: 7,482	Making universal broadband service a reality http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20091218/cm_csm/269715 By the Monitor's Editorial Board The Monitor's Editorial Board Fri Dec 18, 3:30 pm ET This week, the Obama administration took its first step toward making high-speed Internet service available to everyone in America. It announced millions of dollars in grants and loans for broadband service in underserved communities across the country. But it didn’t act alone and that’s an important point. States kicked in. So did the private sector. The Internet is as fundamental to US economic growth and productivity in this century as the telephone, electric power, and the National Highway System were in the last. The Web is both the dial tone and transport system of the modern age â€“ connecting people and ideas and opening a path to markets and services around the world. Until this year, though, the federal government has been largely absent from the delivery of fast Internet service. That’s been the work of the private sector – the cable, satellite, and telecom companies. They’ve done a good job. Some studies show that nearly 90 percent of US households now have access to broadband. But the private sector can’t do it all. Companies only go where there’s profit, which means that many poor neighborhoods, and rural and tribal areas don’t have access to a high-speed Internet connection. Once a leader in the Internet, the US ranks 15th in broadband market penetration. And compared with a country such as Japan, the average Internet speed in the US is a tenth as fast. It’s time for the federal government to get involved, and this year, it did. Congress provided $7.2 billion of Recovery Act money to help reach the goal of universal, affordable broadband access. Wisely, it also required matching funds from states to augment this assistance. This week, Vice President Biden announced the first recipients of the stimulus funds: $183 million to poor and underserved areas in 17 states, from Appalachian Georgia and rural Maine to native American areas in southwest Alaska. Other public funds and the private sector are contributing $46 million. Congress has also required the Federal Communications Commission to come up with a National Broadband Plan, due in February. From a preliminary report released this week, the FCC looks to be on the right path. It says competition should be a “guiding principle” of any plan, because competition drives innovation and provides consumer choice. It also recognizes limited government funding and says federal help will have to be “leveraged with private sector investment.” That seems to be the reality of the 21st century. The federal government simply doesn’t have the money to expand the Internet in the way it built Interstate highways or electrified rural areas. And government can’t always know which Internet technology to support. But there’s also no denying that universal, high-speed Internet service is as essential to American competitiveness as universal phone service has been. Broadband for all will have to be a public-private partnership for now. __________________ Insert free thought here.

12-20-2009, 11:49 PM	#10
Smittie61984 I give Squids a bad name Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Fly Over State Moto: 1996 CBR600 F3 (AKA the Flying Turd) Posts: 4,742	Too bad the private market didn't have a solution for broadband internet... Looks like they even have parts of Alaska covered (even far north Barrow Alaska area). Appalachian, Georgia? http://www.twowheelsonly.com/ Check out "Amenities" and look at the first thing they offer? If the evil phone companies only offered high speed internet to that area. I also noticed on the map a big white spot near the Georgia/Florida line. Didn't know that Alligators needed high speed internet but guess I was wrong. Oh yeah. See those tan spots on the Georgia coast? Those are the Georgia Islands that are federal protected. You are not allowed to lay a human foot on those islands, yet they do have coverage. __________________ lifts - R.I.P. Last edited by Smittie61984; 12-20-2009 at 11:53 PM..

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12-20-2009, 08:15 AM	#2
BobTheBiker too much time on my hands Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: the northern district of god damn Moto: 01 ZX6R, looking for more now. Posts: 1,802	another freedom stolen very subtly. by providing broadband to EVERYONE, the govt can get an additional hand, and more access to private info, to monitor what goes on online. dont tell me its not true, because you know damned well it is.

12-20-2009, 08:28 AM	#5
Tmall Aspiring Rapper Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Halifax, NS Moto: '12 CB1000R Posts: 3,569	Don't put your private info online? They sell extra thick hat edition aluminum foil these days too. You should be safe if you make a hat and don't use computers. Well, until they learn how to wiretap.. Oh, wait..

12-20-2009, 08:55 AM	#6
BobTheBiker too much time on my hands Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: the northern district of god damn Moto: 01 ZX6R, looking for more now. Posts: 1,802	you're TOTALLY missing my point. by doing this, they'll be able to monitor who you talk to, what you say, and when you say it much easier. playing blind only works for so long.