On Tue, Jul 16, 2002 at 02:47:24PM -0400, Russell Nelson wrote:
> Tim Pozar writes:
> > On Tue, Jul 16, 2002 at 09:28:51AM -0500, John Foust wrote:
> > > But I'm guessing the CPE equipment in this case is closer to $800
> > > than $200, and it's still not a firewall. Even if this city wasn't
> > > charging for net access, selling $750 CPEs to citizens still smacks
> > > of giving more to the "haves" than the "have nots".
> >
> > Right. They will have to subsidize the hardware as well as the
> > bandwidth.
>
> Why? People manage to purchase a car. Those who want one manage to
> purchase a computer. Why would someone not be able to afford $800 for
> CPE? It's cheaper than a lawn tractor.
Those who want one do NOT always manage to own a computer, a car, or
a lawn tractor. (Heck, people do not always manage to own LAWNS.) If
people purchase a car in spite of financial hardship, it is because
car-lessness is an obstacle to holding a job and to purchasing the
goods one needs.
People will disagree whether the Internet is essential to economic
participation right now, but I think people will agree that the 'Net
is certain to be very important in the future---more important, even,
than the telephone. That is why it makes sense for municipalities and
other units of government to work now to bring everyone the Internet
affordably.
That being said, I question whether $800 per CPE is a sound investment
for a municipality. $500 sounds reasonable. At $250 a CPE, a city
would be foolish not to make the investment.
Dave
--
David Young OJC Technologies
[EMAIL PROTECTED] Engineering from the Right Brain
Urbana, IL * (217) 278-3933
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