Brian makes good points, as long as the FCC would allow any ISP the rights to this: "It's time to do the same for the internet and broadband. Not just one time funding for build outs, but also money to help sustain the operations over time in markets that just can't do it otherwise." The Rural Telephone Cooperatives "rule the roost" in my competitive area(with telephone and internet) and they should not be the only ones getting this funding. The FCC has already done that with the "rural exemption" clauses in the TA of 1996, along with other telecom wide Act's passages.
Scottie ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: Brian Webster <[email protected]> Reply-To: [email protected], WISPA General List <[email protected]> Date: Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:38:37 -0400 >Part of the issue for the rural markets is the actual household density. There >are some areas that on their own, will not sustain a viable business model >even if you have grant money to fund the initial build out. The internet >should be viewed as a utility. When other utility technologies were new >(electricity and telephone) the government fought with this same exact >problem. For the telephone industry they came up with the universal services >fund (USF). Areas that qualified for this funding received monthly subsidies >to balance out the costs to make it a viable business model in those areas >that did not otherwise make the case for private enterprise to do it alone. >The Rural Electrification Act (REA) also did things to solve these problems. >It's time to do the same for the internet and broadband. Not just one time >funding for build outs, but also money to help sustain the operations over >time in markets that just can't do it otherwise. Wireless High Speed Broadband service from Info-Ed, Inc. as low as $30.00/mth. Check out www.info-ed.com/wireless.html for information. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wants You! Join today! http://signup.wispa.org/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wireless List: [email protected] Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
