Obama adviser looks at U.S.-built broadband network

[babylonsister]

Obama adviser looks at U.S.-built broadband network

By David Hatch, CongressDaily 05/26/2009


A senior adviser to President Obama is touting the idea of spending tens of billions of dollars in public funds to build a nationwide, state-of-the-art broadband network featuring speeds 100 times faster than today's technology.

While there has been no formal Obama administration commitment to such infrastructure investment, Susan Crawford, special assistant to the president for science, technology and innovation policy, has said she is "personally intrigued" by an ambitious plan by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

His plan proposes a public-private partnership that would invest up to $33 billion over eight years to build and operate a fiber-optic broadband network reaching 90 percent of homes and workplaces. Wireless and satellite technology would be used to reach the remaining 10 percent in the outback.

Obama and congressional Democrats have backed a $7.2 billion cash infusion to stimulate domestic broadband investment as part of this year's economic stimulus package, but experts have acknowledged that gaps in availability and bandwidth will remain, with pockets of the United States left with no service or antiquated technology.

Proponents of Australia's program argue that the government-subsidized network promises myriad opportunities for online businesses and enhancements to energy efficiency, media distribution and public safety.

more...

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090526_2886.php

[msongs]

1. internet access should be a public utility, taken out of the clutches of profiteers. nt

[rurallib]

2. Republicans say returning to telegraph good enough.

"If it was good enough for grandpa, it is good enough for me" said Guy White speaking for the Republican Party.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

3. Telegraph?! You whippersnappers and your fancy electricity.

In my day two cups with a piece of string was just fine.

[Cha]

4. Brilliant! And, the repukes will fight

this tooth and nail because it means education for the masses.

[Perky]

5. From some who has been a consultantin thetelecom space for over 25 years

THe economics of this is great from a capital investment perspective and from a putting smart people to work basis, and the social benefit extraordinary,


the problem is that it will likely be a public private consortium (sort of like Amtrak) and that will slow thing down immensely,

[LiberalFighter]

6. If internet speed would be 100 times faster then why hardwire to customers?

Wouldn't it be more feasible to provide 100% wireless access from the utility easements instead of 10%?

[RollWithIt]

7. Wireless would still run into major issues. I'll list some off the top of my head...

1. Most desktop computers (not laptop) do not come with a wireless card. So they'd have to be purchased or given to the person. Plus they'd have to be installed on everyones machine which would create a logistical nightmare.

2. The wireless signal would still be hard to access in certain areas.

3. If you're going to spend billions you do it right all at once. You don't hope wireless works. Wire it to the door or don't do it at all.

[totodeinhere]

8. The government could mandate that at some point in the future all computers,

desktop or laptop, sold in the USA must be equipped with a wireless card. I would be akin to when the government in the 60's mandated that all TV's sold in the US must have a UHF tuner. By the time the proposed government financed broadband network came on line, most computers except for really old ones would have the necessary wireless cards. BTW, adding a wireless card to a desktop computer wouldn't cost very much at all.

[DrToast]

10. You couldn't get speeds that fast over wireless.*

*

[AnnieBW]

9. GET WIMAX NOW!

A lot of rural areas could be served by bringing in WiMAX, which is high-speed wireless networking. It's perfect for rural settings, where the spectrum isn't as crowded.

[babylonsister]

11. There's got to be a drawback to that. Or, the

drawback is that some people in rural areas don't have 'puters?

And no, I don't have an answer, or know if the possibilities in the OP are the answer.