FCC TO Propose National High-Speed Internet
It's about time. Of course, the monopolies will fight it tooth and nail, but I don't think they'll be able to stop this idea for long:
Culminating a year of extensive outreach and study, federal regulators on Tuesday will propose an ambitious, decade-long road map to extend high-speed Internet access to every corner of the country and make the United States home to "the fastest and most extensive wireless networks of any nation."
The plan by the Federal Communications Commission sets a goal of assuring that at least 100 million homes have affordable access to so-called broadband networks that allow them to download data from the Internet at speeds of at least 100 megabits per second -- 20 times or more faster than most people get today. The proposal, which will be sent to Congress, also seeks to put super-fast Internet access of 1 gigabit per second in public facilities such as schools, hospitals and government buildings in every community.
The FCC released the proposal's executive summary Monday.
Another key component of the plan is creating a new wireless network for police, firefighters and other public safety workers so they can communicate and share data and video between departments during major emergencies. Lawmakers and public safety organizations have pushed for such a network since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when first responders at the World Trade Center had trouble communicating. In 2008, the FCC tried to use the lure of cheap access to public airwaves during a major spectrum auction to convince private companies to help build such a network, but the effort failed.
Tapping into the wireless airwaves is a key part of the FCC's plan. It wants to reallocate a huge chunk of radio-frequency spectrum to use for high-speed Internet service, regarded as a much cheaper and quicker way of spreading broadband service than laying wire of fiber cables -- particularly in rural areas. But that spectrum is assigned to TV and radio broadcasters, who are expected to strongly oppose any proposal to take it away.
... a dark side. The infrastructure that would support it is owned by the telecoms. If we do get it, the fight for net neutrality has to be fought hard, not this throw-it-out-the-window nonsense we get from Pelosi and Reid. (Could you imagine if the healthcare battle were actually over the First Amendment? Oh, of course they support a robust freedom of speech ... oooops, there it goes ...)
And, to put it in perspective, some people don't get it. Google has announced its plan to create a 'test city' ... and one of the applicants is Palo Alto, California. Because, they argue, there's Stanford University, Facebook, and other high-tech startups who would really be using the bandwidth. (I mean, what WOULD those peasants in Topeka, KS do with it?)
There are serious questions regarding the safety of wireless transmissions, including cell phones and wi-fi.
http://www.gq.com/cars-gear/gear-and-gadgets/...
... my career has me exposed to multiple video monitors, microwave and satellite transmissions, and a college job had me exposed to ionizing radiation from a 5-watt laser, I'm already doomed.
I just hope it'll be a cool mutation like ice powers ...
heh
reinstate Saint Reagan's destroyed radio and tv Fairness Act which will force shock jocks and FOX to broadcast both sides of each issue at hand.
If Pugs were more intelligent there would be no need, but they are too lazy to change the channels or too stupid to think.
Or it won't do any good. Kind of like healthcare reform with no public option/single-payer.
Of course, this would be an example of 'intrusive big government.' God forbid there should be anyone out there watching out for the public's interests and fining the royal fuck out of lying bastards like Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.
Too bad for all of those companies that are not part of the telecom monopolies and sell alternatives to high speed - you know, those dial-up providers and satellite providers. Those suckers get to pay taxes so that the government will put them out of work. Oh, but I forget; that is for the greater good so they should shut up.
... lease a portion of the telecom's infrastructure. Satellite providers include companies like General Electric.
It's ALL corporate run.
Oh you mean Hughes net and Wildblue? I don't think they are hurting much. The sooner dial-ups die and sat providers provide real High speed serv.(higher then crap that is) the better
I'm forced to use Hughesnet, even though I'm only 3 miles from town. The sooner they're out of business, the better we'll all be. It's definitely NOT high speed internet and the daily download limit makes it only slightly better than dial up.
The wireless (AT&T or Verizon) option is even more restrictive.
Dial up is a rip-off because you are forced to pay for a phone line service that you may not even need or want.
The govmint already tracks everything we do. Now they'll be able to do it faster.
Now Jihad jane will be able to spread her word that much faster!!!
American innovation - finding new ways for the government to spy on you, charge you for it and enrich the private sector.
BRILLIANT!
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
Many small and corrupt counties in the Southeast refuse to utilize broadband for emergency management. The reason? Crooked cops don't want the public hearing where they're going to pick up their drug bribes. Police scanners cost a utility bill or two. Apps with police radio cost as little as 99 cents. And cheap broadband and wi-fi? That would make many poor young'uns better able to research their schoolwork online and compete successfully with the ruling clique's privileged brats.
500+ stations polluting the public airways with right-wing drivel and prosperity-gospel snake oil salesmen, often relaying the same feed; why not put the airways to some public good? They've been milking the system long enough.
I wish someone would start spinning this heavily as a "Keeping up with the Joneses" situation. The rest of the post-industrial world is leaving us in its dust regularly on issues such as this, but we Americans pride ourselves on being number one.
Won't someone simply convince the uneducated that this is a matter of national pride? That anyone who opposes it lacks national pride, doesn't want America to be #1!!!
They can convince us to kill thousands of Arabs this way but not to be able to see doctors or let poor people have the same access to the Internet.
America, this is why you can't have nice things. Pundits, this is your homework assignment.
Where the f*ck are all that "We're #1" cheerleaders now? Oh yeah, watching Fux propaganda channel in their single-wides, believing that they are #1.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
let us help these poor folk out by getting their disorder recognized.
Just as MADD was formed to help drunks from murdering us on the streets, , sign this petition so AP's can get the help they need.
This is a way for us to discuss the havoc wreaked upon society by such anti-social individuals forcing their selfish desires upon us.
http://www.change.org/actions/view/authoritar......
Look at the BB Spec, Tel/ Radio Bandwidth on the spec is small compared to what the Gov has. Military, NASA, Maritime, etc. There is enough for everyone. The FCC has made very little available, Even less that's unlicensed. I have no problems putting it to the Monopolies, But if the FCC is really serious; They need to give up some of Theirs (so to speak).
Great...high speed phish...
Wait, I've heard them, they never play at a pace beyond plodding...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
I was visiting a friend in Sweden back when 9/11 happened. And my friend had 100Mbit up and downstream. That was nearly 9 years ago.
It's pretty sad when we are playing catch-up with a technology that was originally developed here.
...but the Wingers in this country are focused on competition. Only it is the kind of trivial competition where a bunch of corporations fight over who gets to overcharge customers for substandard services. In other countries, they're more interested in the kind of competition that pits one country against another for the global economic spoils. That means they try to ensure the most people have the best Internet service for the least money, so they can be as productive as possible relative to other countries. Meanwhile, back in the Hick States of America, all that matters is whether ISPs can get outrageous profits off 1990s technology.
This is just one more example of the failure of the "free market" to deliver, and it cries out for government intervention. American capitalism is a mindless exercise in trivial nonsense. It is unable to formulate effective strategies because it always thinks small and short term when a global, long-term approach is called for. And American capitalists are so hamstrung by ideological purity they can't see more than ten minutes into the future.
It's the same thing in health care policy. All that matters is the ability of private players to maximize their individual profits for shareholder approval. The idea of having a maximally healthy population able to compete at its best never enters their tiny little minds. Healthy people who have their health needs met and aren't facing economic ruin are likely to be more productive than people who are sick, untreated, and in danger of bankruptcy.
Ideology always dictates to Wingers (aka capitalists) what to do. They would rather pay more for worse health care than make any ideological concessions. They are doomed and dooming the US as a country.
Ten years ago this would have been a great idea now it's about playing catch-up.
Comments are closed on this entry