Comments on: Senator Dale Schultz Releases Broadband Update http://www.pdctoday.com/2009/09/senator-dale-schultz-releases-broadband-update/ PdC Today is is your reliable source for Prairie du Chien area news, events, and opinions providing a timely, in-depth look at life in the land of rivers and bluffs. Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:49:46 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: BroadBrain http://www.pdctoday.com/2009/09/senator-dale-schultz-releases-broadband-update/comment-page-1/#comment-229 BroadBrain Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:36:04 +0000 http://www.pdctoday.com/?p=1577#comment-229 You misunderstand me, the pork is the whole broadband mapping. I'm all for public broadband if the big business incumbents are unwilling to meet the demands of the 21st century American. I am suggesting government telecomm infrastructure. I, as a taxpayer, have already paid for all of this. We're all supposed to have lightning fast connections. America was fleeced by the telcos. http://www.newnetworks.com/ShortSCANDALSummary.htm At this point, the telcos know their service areas. They aren't willing to spill the beans because they want to continue to cherry pick the most profitable service areas, but the idea that they don't know is ridiculous. If the government is spending tax dollars on "broadband mapping" the sole goal of that project should be public broadband, you've admitted that it isn't, so what's the point? That's what, in reality, we call pork. What Shultz is offering up is more of the same big business collusion with government, no thanks. You misunderstand me, the pork is the whole broadband mapping. I’m all for public broadband if the big business incumbents are unwilling to meet the demands of the 21st century American. I am suggesting government telecomm infrastructure.

I, as a taxpayer, have already paid for all of this. We’re all supposed to have lightning fast connections. America was fleeced by the telcos.

http://www.newnetworks.com/ShortSCANDALSummary.htm

At this point, the telcos know their service areas. They aren’t willing to spill the beans because they want to continue to cherry pick the most profitable service areas, but the idea that they don’t know is ridiculous.

If the government is spending tax dollars on “broadband mapping” the sole goal of that project should be public broadband, you’ve admitted that it isn’t, so what’s the point? That’s what, in reality, we call pork. What Shultz is offering up is more of the same big business collusion with government, no thanks.

]]> By: Tom Jackson http://www.pdctoday.com/2009/09/senator-dale-schultz-releases-broadband-update/comment-page-1/#comment-226 Tom Jackson Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:39:41 +0000 http://www.pdctoday.com/?p=1577#comment-226 Government may continue to own a small part of telecommunications “first mile” and “middle mile” infrastructure like some optical fiber cables, but most of the back haul and virtually all the “last mile” or retail infrastructure will remain private-sector owned. No one with any awareness of this subject is suggesting significant expansion of government telecomm infrastructure ownership. However, public-private partnerships can hasten universal broadband across rural areas, and help result in more of what community members need. The current Congress included broadband mapping funds for all 50 states because that’s an essential component for broadband planning. Doyle appointees at the state’s Public Service Commission chose the private contractor for Wisconsin’s broadband mapping. Report suspected problems to the Legislative Audit Bureau’s Waste, Fraud and Abuse Hotline, 877.372.8317, http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lab/fraudHotline.htm. Government may continue to own a small part of telecommunications “first mile” and “middle mile” infrastructure like some optical fiber cables, but most of the back haul and virtually all the “last mile” or retail infrastructure will remain private-sector owned. No one with any awareness of this subject is suggesting significant expansion of government telecomm infrastructure ownership. However, public-private partnerships can hasten universal broadband across rural areas, and help result in more of what community members need. The current Congress included broadband mapping funds for all 50 states because that’s an essential component for broadband planning. Doyle appointees at the state’s Public Service Commission chose the private contractor for Wisconsin’s broadband mapping. Report suspected problems to the Legislative Audit Bureau’s Waste, Fraud and Abuse Hotline, 877.372.8317, http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lab/fraudHotline.htm.

]]> By: BroadBrain http://www.pdctoday.com/2009/09/senator-dale-schultz-releases-broadband-update/comment-page-1/#comment-222 BroadBrain Tue, 29 Sep 2009 03:00:53 +0000 http://www.pdctoday.com/?p=1577#comment-222 The senators page seems succinctly devoid of any actual information about how he plans to provide broadband to rural wisconsin. I see a cheezy acronym, UBER, and no meat. I see a whole lot of opportunity for pork, gotta hire lotsa your good buddies for those survey's eh Senator? Map the broadband infrastructure? Talk about a waste of tax dollars, the telcos already know who is in their service areas, make them give up the goods. Then offer them the opportunity to provide broadband to underserved areas, if they decline, public fiber. Done. The senators page seems succinctly devoid of any actual information about how he plans to provide broadband to rural wisconsin. I see a cheezy acronym, UBER, and no meat. I see a whole lot of opportunity for pork, gotta hire lotsa your good buddies for those survey’s eh Senator?

Map the broadband infrastructure? Talk about a waste of tax dollars, the telcos already know who is in their service areas, make them give up the goods. Then offer them the opportunity to provide broadband to underserved areas, if they decline, public fiber. Done.

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