SImply this: do NOT hand the future of a healthy internet to private telecommunications companies to run as they see fit. They have already proven themselves to be only concerned with profit maximization, pure and simple. They want to stifle growth and competition, and have already tried to do so. Lobby money is no way to administer the largest global communication network ever. I live a mere 10 miles from San Jose... more »
For the past six years my wife and I have lived in a rural area and worked out of our home. We've survived (barely) with satellite broadband, and are now paying $100 a month for service from HughesNet. It claims to be about 1.5m down / 300k up, but often fails to perform to that spec. There are times when we have to drive almost 30 minutes to a coffee shop where we can get a WiFi connection when the satellite connection... more »
Bring the US back to the top 10 countries of the world in terms of Internet connectivity. Force the phone companies to stop gouging us on broadband access over slow and antiquated xDSL technology. Take the "dark fiber" sitting in the ground and use it. Bring fiber to the "last mile" and up to the doorsteps of everyone, not just the big companies who can afford to put their own in. And offer high-speed internet for... more »
This idea is focused on ensuring that we don't waste our time and money deploying wireless internet solutions that will not meet our future needs for homes across America. Doing it right is expensive, but doing it wrong and sacrificing our future would be far worse and more expensive in the long run. In the Policy Brief, "Municipal Broadband: Demystifying Wireless and Fiber-Optic Options" (1), Christopher Mitchell states:... more »
The National Broadband Plan should include the Federal Communications Commissions' plans to modernize the federal Universal Service Program to support affordable, universal, landline, and wireless broadband.
A lot of people are poo-pooing the idea of of delivering internet over powerline because it isn't as fast as cable. Quite honestly I'm sick of hearing it--you know what is SLOW--dial-up and satellite! And the rural locations those are currently the only two options available at this time--unless you're lucky enough to get cell phone coverage--then you might even have the option of 3G -- hold the oohs and ahhs. While... more »
There are many people that don't have access to broadband, because they live out in rural areas. I feel real lucky to have fiber optics at home, but I would like to see these fiber optic networks expanded out to rural communities. Unlike cable and traditional copper telephone wiring, single mode fiber optic cable can carry signals up to 62 miles before having to be repeated! This is an ideal solution for bringing broadband,... more »
The National Broadband Plan should recommend that President Obama promote policies to stimulate both demand for, and supply of, robust and affordable broadband. The President should direct the heads of all federal departments and agencies to take specific action to: * Ensure that affordable, robust broadband is available to all Americans; * Include the use of broadband in meeting the mission of their agency;... more »
I want a municipally owned fiber optic network (last mile) where service providers for internet/TV/phone compete for my business.
The National Broadband Plan should include plans to initiate and expand programs to extend broadband to persons with disabilities, seniors, minorities, Native Americans, and other populations that are too often on the wrong side of the digital divide.
get BB to the poor remote regions of the US too
Broadband rollout is going well in areas where demand and market forces sufficiently incentivize private network companies, and federal actions must not devalue or weaken incentives for private investment. But there obviously remains the problem of areas where, for reasons of geography, population density, or other issues, a business case for deploying broadband is a challenge. At the same time the policy tool box... more »
The National Broadband Plan should include a plan to stimulate the supply of broadband in low-income communities by requiring as a condition for receipt of federal funding that public housing and other public buildings have robust broadband access available to all residents and tenants.
Since 1992 USDOT has invested $1.5 billion to deploy an ITS on limited access highways and local roadways across America. Most of this investment was to construct broadband infrastructure. Unfortunately, USDOT policy is to limit use of this infrastructure for “transportation purposes.” We could achieve the objectives of the National Broadband Plan much more swiftly if USDOT would permit the use of excess capacity on... more »
Right now, I have a phone line, wireless internet service provider access, satellite TV, and a cell phone. Here is the change I see we need to do. All 4 of these services provide a data communication connection. The phone line is the only wired connection point that allows me to receive and transmit data (voice). The wireless internet and cell phone provide a receive and transmit communications link to a tower. The... more »