Tom DeReggi wrote:
The only exception to this is the FREE Net / Muni Net. Big ventures
need big companies and big pockets. MOst likely that problem will take
care of itself. First, consumers hate marketing and SPAM. Do you think
they are going to embrase the solution that guarantees they are going
to get spammed and chewed their productivity and bandwdith up with
advertising crap? The false promise designs, are going to piss off the
consumers. I think it jsut won;lt succeed enough to be a threat. The
best part is the new 5.4Ghz spectrum allocated. It will allow a HUGE
larger amount of options to co-exist with Muni nets and other ISPs.
I agree strongly with your post, with the possible long-term coexistence
with muni-nets. I see a problem fundamentally with municipally and
federally funded/managed broadband projects with virtually unlimited
budgets and manpower. It reduces broadband to a utility that EVERYONE
"needs" and the government has to give you as an entitlement. Think
that's not bad for the entrepreneurs? Try starting a water company that
competes with the city's water system. Or a power company. Or a 1st
class mail delivery service. I don't think I can get $12/hr union
workers to hand-deliver mail to houses for $0.39/letter and make a
profit. Once those services are established as "we gotta have it" type
services, and the government starts to provide it (even though they
charge for them) there is NO room for competition in most of those
areas. The prices for postage, electricity, and water delivery are all
pretty much set by the providers. If most cities delivered broadband the
way they do water, electricity and mail, the prices would be too low for
any of us to compete on any real scale, and the WISP startup wouldn't
exist, since the government's pockets are too deep, and they have NEVER
needed to make a profit. Those of us who started these things started
because of a NEED. If someone took away that need before we got here, I
wouldn't have started here, and wouldn't be operating a WISP today. Are
my days as an individual small wisp numbered? Yes. I am sure. The
government and/or a monopolistic telco will eventually fill the gap that
I am bridging right now. Hopefully AFTER I have the chance to fund a
retirement, college for the kids, and maybe pay for a house to die in.
Cashing out selling the business is a nice idea, and hopefully some
greedy SOB will buy my business for enough money to make me go away, but
thats been my exit strategy from day one, I think.
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