Comments on: Shovel-ready Broadband Stimulus

By: earle

earle — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:54:15 +0000

I lived in Boston ,and when the “big dig” was winding down the “Mass (Route 90)Turnpike” was approached by the cable compnies to work out a deal to run their “Fibre Optic Cable’s” the entire(using their land,and laying the cable just outside the boundaries of the highway) legnth of the Turnpike,from Boston,Ma.to Albany N.Y.. The payment fee’s were (contractural 50 yr.lease,could be a longer term ?)paid to the Mass. Turnpike annually. It was a win-win for the Mass.Turnpike Authority,and the private industry! This is/has been happening for years using our new highways,along with the build-out of the broadband infrastructure. Although, I’m not sure if the government is getting their bang for the buck for these freeloaders piggybacking on our state,and federal highways. Thanks E’Mac,as usual you certainly do your homework(:

By: FreedomAtStake

FreedomAtStake — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:02:59 +0000

What a joke! We don’t need to have the Gov’t waiste money on rural broadband service. Are we forgetting who are most of the people who live in the rural areas (i.e., farmers, ranchers, hibernators, etc.). These people are too busy with their day-to-day operations (working for a living), that they aren’t going to waste their time “googling” every day. This is a typical example of what is wrong in America right now. We are spending money we don’t have for things we don’t need to create jobs that aren’t sustainable in an effort to ensure votes for Washington politicians. When will Americans wake up?

By: Mary Wilson

Mary Wilson — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:43:44 +0000

I live on a road that already has cable tv provided by Time Warner, but they will not provide broadband. I have spoken with Time Warner(cable company) and Verizon(phone company),they told me that there will be no broadband added, their reason is that it is to expensive. If the goverenment would pay broadband competitors for UNSERVED rural areas then there could be hope. I have dialup service and I am unable to do the most on the internet, including running my business. I also want to mention there are two schools,a number of homes and other small businesses on on this same road.
Mary Wilson
Circleville, OH

By: Carla,Ballwin,MO

Carla,Ballwin,MO — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:07:32 +0000

A good background article is Peter Stenberg’s “Communications and the Internet in Rural America” dated July,2002 (USDA’s website). It’s interesting how he points out telephone service was debated as a luxury or necessity in its infancy. Access to the internet (fast and affordable) for ALL is a worthwhile endeavor for the government and private sector. Rural access to broadband was implemented in the Clinton years, and accelerated in the Bush admin. Independent spirit, kindness, and love of the land – I love rural America! Anything to help the people and rural communities is OK with me!

By: JJB

JJB — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:23:01 +0000

Very interesting perspective. Hope to hear what untangles in Vegas.