On Jul 22, 2014, at 08:27 , Aaron <aa...@wholesaleinternet.net> wrote:
> So let me throw out a purely hypothetical scenario to the collective: > > What do you think the consequences to a municipality would be if they laid > fiber to every house in the city and gave away internet access for free? Not > the WiFi builds we have today but FTTH at gigabit speeds for free? I think the project would be enjoined before it could get permitted. I don't think they'd be allowed to move a single backhoe in support of the project. > Do you think the LECs would come unglued? Definition: LEC -- Local Exchange Carrier -- A law firm masquerading as a communications company. Yeah, I think they'd come unglued and wallpaper every courthouse between city hall and the state capital until such a project was not only illegal, but any city that considered such a notion faced huge fines for even thinking about it. That doesn't mean I think it's a bad idea, just what I think would actually happen. Owen > > Aaron > > > On 7/21/2014 8:33 PM, Miles Fidelman wrote: >> I've seen various communities attempt to hand out free wifi - usually in >> limited areas, but in some cases community-wide (Brookline, MA comes to >> mind). The limited ones (e.g., in tourist hotspots) have been city funded, >> or donated. The community-wide ones, that I've seen, have been >> public-private partnerships - the City provides space on light poles and >> such - the private firm provides limited access, in hopes of selling >> expanded service. I haven't seen it work successfully - 4G cell service >> beats the heck out of WiFi as a metropolitan area service. >> >> When it comes to municipal fiber and triple-play projects, I've generally >> seen them capitalized with revenue bonds -- hence, a need for revenue to pay >> of the financing. Lower cost than commercial services because municipal >> bonds are low-interest, long-term, and they operate on a cost-recovery basis. >> >> Miles Fidelman >> >> Aaron wrote: >>> Do you have an example of a municipality that gives free internet access to >>> it's residents? >>> >>> >>> On 7/21/2014 2:26 PM, Matthew Kaufman wrote: >>>> I think the difference is when the municipality starts throwing in free or >>>> highly subsidized layer 3 connectivity "free with every layer 1 connection" >>>> >>>> Matthew Kaufman >>>> >>>> (Sent from my iPhone) >>>> >>>>> On Jul 21, 2014, at 12:08 PM, Blake Dunlap <iki...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> My power is pretty much always on, my water is pretty much always on >>>>> and safe, my sewer system works, etc etc... >>>>> >>>>> Why is layer 1 internet magically different from every other utility? >>>>> >>>>> -Blake >>>>> >>>>>> On Mon, Jul 21, 2014 at 1:38 PM, William Herrin <b...@herrin.us> wrote: >>>>>>> On Mon, Jul 21, 2014 at 10:20 AM, Jay Ashworth <j...@baylink.com> wrote: >>>>>>> Over the last decade, 19 states have made it illegal for municipalities >>>>>>> to own fiber networks >>>>>> Hi Jay, >>>>>> >>>>>> Everything government does, it does badly. Without exception. There >>>>>> are many things government does better than any private organization >>>>>> is likely to sustain, but even those things it does slowly and at an >>>>>> exorbitant price. >>>>>> >>>>>> Muni fiber is a competition killer. You can't beat city hall; once >>>>>> built it's not practical to compete, even with better service, so >>>>>> residents are stuck with only the overpriced (either directly or via >>>>>> taxes), usually underpowered and always one-size-fits-all network >>>>>> access which results. As an ISP I watched something similar happen in >>>>>> Altoona PA a decade and a half ago. It was a travesty. >>>>>> >>>>>> The only exception I see to this would be if localities were >>>>>> constrained to providing point to point and point to multipoint >>>>>> communications infrastructure within the locality on a reasonable and >>>>>> non-discriminatory basis. The competition that would foster on the >>>>>> services side might outweigh the damage on the infrastructure side. >>>>>> Like public roads facilitate efficient transportation and freight >>>>>> despite the cost and potholes, though that's an imperfect simile. >>>>>> >>>>>> Regards, >>>>>> Bill Herrin >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> William Herrin ................ her...@dirtside.com b...@herrin.us >>>>>> Owner, Dirtside Systems ......... Web: <http://www.dirtside.com/> >>>>>> Can I solve your unusual networking challenges? >>> >> >> > > -- > ================================================================ > Aaron Wendel > Chief Technical Officer > Wholesale Internet, Inc. (AS 32097) > (816)550-9030 > http://www.wholesaleinternet.com > ================================================================
