[CAnet - news] Muni Networks - The Public's Not Buying

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[Good article in Lightreading on the public perceptions of broadband.
Although many of us digerati may foam at the mouth at the perceived slow
pace of broadband deployment, the lack of competitive services and
relatively slow broadband speeds, the public in general for the most part is
satisfied with broadband services as they are offered today.  On the whole
broadband speeds are increasing, prices are dropping and coverage is
steadily increasing.  Compared to the pace of any other infrastructure
deployment such as cell phones, telephone, cable TV, electricity, the rate
of broadband deployment has been astoundingly fast.

Other than a small number of exceptions, broadband is not on the radar for
most municipalities as the public has far greater concerns with respect to
road repair, education and emergency services.

But the fact there are no public complaints, does not mean there are no
important issues to be addressed with respect to broadband.  To my mind
facilities based competition in the last mile still remains the number one
issue.  But this cannot be achieved through regulatory fiat.  This is where
the municipalities have a key role to play  - not in trying to be a services
provider themselves, but by building the enabling infrastructure such as
open conduit and/or partnering in the construction of condominium dark
fiber. 

But the rationale to build such infrastructure cannot be justified by the
non-existent public demand for something to be done about broadband. The
digerati I think have a responsibility to contribute to the larger municipal
concerns and issues, rather than being seen as another special interest
group focused on our narrow interest of broadband now. 

The number issue for most municipalities is new sources of revenue. Open
conduit and condo dark fiber, built on non-exclusive basis, has shown to be
a steady revenue source for cities without violating any right-of-way issues
with respect to FCC and CRTC. It rarely, if ever, impedes on any similar
private sector service, and most importantly creates an infrastructure for
competitive facilities based broadband.  It also has the added benefit of
minimizing impact of the serial rippers who are deploying independent fiber
cables down municipal streets and reducing the number of spaghetti trees of
coax and copper strung on telephone poles-- BSA]



Muni Networks - The Public's Not Buying

Fast, affordable broadband? "What for?" asks Joe Sixpack. 

http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=81025




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those  of the CANARIE board or management.

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