Comments on: We need a rural Internet initiative http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2006/09/we_need_a_rural.html Technology, leadership, and the future of schools Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:00:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Scott S. Floyd http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2006/09/we_need_a_rural.html/comment-page-1#comment-15395 Scott S. Floyd Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2006/09/we_need_a_rural.html#comment-15395 I have to second that. Living in a rural area, we have no access to high speed Internet without spending over $60 a month for the basic service via mini dishes. Most families cannot afford that just for the niceties of speed. On the other hand, why are we cheating our students out of the content rich media and services found on the net. There is no way they can stream videos through dial-up. Services like Thinkfree.com are slow loading as well. There has to be a better, more affordable way. I am not sure what the progress is for the high speed over electric lines, but that would be one convenient way. I have to second that. Living in a rural area, we have no access to high speed Internet without spending over $60 a month for the basic service via mini dishes. Most families cannot afford that just for the niceties of speed. On the other hand, why are we cheating our students out of the content rich media and services found on the net. There is no way they can stream videos through dial-up. Services like Thinkfree.com are slow loading as well. There has to be a better, more affordable way. I am not sure what the progress is for the high speed over electric lines, but that would be one convenient way.

]]> By: Jack http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2006/09/we_need_a_rural.html/comment-page-1#comment-15396 Jack Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2006/09/we_need_a_rural.html#comment-15396 First thanks for the WiMax link to our blog we appreciate it when any blogge links to us and we will try to return the favor next week when we start poting again. Next I agree with you that there needs to be some incentive to roll out high speed access to rural markets. I am not to sure I trust the Government to do it and get it right put the corporations ain't doing it either. My two suggestion 1. Offer a grant or tax break for exach "X" ammount of new subscribers in underserved makets. This would let the Government incentive it but leave decisions and deployment in the hands of companies who know how to actually pull it off for a reasonable cost. 2. Let the communites apply for Grants or Tax breaks so they can afford attract companies to build out the networks. This is better because all the big guys sitting on their butts would get greedy as small companies started deploying stuff all over the place. You see the big carriers could do it if they wanted to but they are too busy fighting against net neutrality and making billions to sever the smaller markets that will take a ten year path to become profitable. Jack Spirko First thanks for the WiMax link to our blog we appreciate it when any blogge links to us and we will try to return the favor next week when we start poting again.

Next I agree with you that there needs to be some incentive to roll out high speed access to rural markets. I am not to sure I trust the Government to do it and get it right put the corporations ain’t doing it either.

My two suggestion

1. Offer a grant or tax break for exach “X” ammount of new subscribers in underserved makets. This would let the Government incentive it but leave decisions and deployment in the hands of companies who know how to actually pull it off for a reasonable cost.

2. Let the communites apply for Grants or Tax breaks so they can afford attract companies to build out the networks. This is better because all the big guys sitting on their butts would get greedy as small companies started deploying stuff all over the place.

You see the big carriers could do it if they wanted to but they are too busy fighting against net neutrality and making billions to sever the smaller markets that will take a ten year path to become profitable.

Jack Spirko

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