April 9, 2010

$20BN down the rat-hole with f&ck-all to show for it

The FCC is rolling out rural broadband. And I have some ocean-front property in Nevada you might be interested in... From Government Technology:
FCC Announces National Broadband Agenda
The FCC announced Thursday, April 8, its 2010 agenda for putting the National Broadband Plan into action.

The agenda "explains the purpose and timing of more than 60 rulemakings and other notice-and-comment proceedings the plan recommends for FCC action," according to the agency, and will "implement plan recommendations requiring rulemakings through a series of open, participatory notice-and-comment proceedings."

Progress on the plan's implementation can be tracked at www.broadband.gov/plan/broadband-action-agenda.html. An implementation schedule is also available at www.broadband.gov/plan/chart-of-key-broadband-action-agenda-items.pdf.

"Our implementation plan lays out a road map for reforming universal service to connect all Americans to broadband, including in rural areas; unleashing spectrum, promoting competition and supporting small businesses; protecting and empowering consumers; safeguarding online privacy; increasing adoption in all communities and ensuring fair access for people with disabilities; protecting broadband networks against cyber-attack and other disasters; and ensuring that all users can reach 911 in an emergency," said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski in a statement.
They will be spending $20BN of our tax dollars for this. We already did this back in the Clinton administration with the Telecommunications Reform Act of 1996. Back then, it was just $3BN of our tax dollars that went down the rat-hole with nothing to show. This is why I am rolling out the T1 lines in our nearby communities. If and when the FCC ever gets here, I will have the last mile covered with equipment that can handle 100MB/Sec so they can just drop the fiber at my access points and cut me a nice check. If they don't, I'll be providing broadband for a couple hundred households and businesses. Posted by DaveH at April 9, 2010 1:06 PM | TrackBack