Comments on: The Broadband Stimulus Game – Should I Stay or Should I Go

By: christopher mitchell

christopher mitchell — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:12:10 +0000

Larry – there is some evidence in SE Minnesota that the small rural towns that get rural broadband stop shrinking while those around them who are unserved continue to shrink. I’m thankful that FDR didn’t think rural areas should be left behind in electrification – universal utilities like phone and electricity made this country great. Universal broadband will help to keep it great.

By: Craig Settles

Craig Settles — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:08:29 +0000

Bill,

Thanks for putting that out there. I wrote a blog post about this question, and there’s a quick poll people can take to register their thoughts on having an extension – http://bit.ly/14aoPq

Craig

By: Larry Karisny

Larry Karisny — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:24:32 +0000

What are we simulating in rural areas, cows? We are not living in the days of communication deregulation and economic growth outside major cities. In fact people are retuning back to big cities. Following is a list from ITS America offered years ago stressing the societal implications of not putting intelligent wireless networks and applications in just our municipal transportation networks.

How about stimulating this:

Annual Safety Impacts

42,000 lives lost
3,000,000 Injuries
$230 billion in medical costs

Traffic

$ 6 billion in personal hours lost per year
$ 80 billion in lost wages and wasted fuel
20-30% more roads built ($280 billion ITS America)

Homeland Security

Goods monitoring
Oil dependency

Environment

Quality of living

Yes we need a broadband stimulus package but lets put broadband wireless network applications where we will get some immediate bang for our buck.

By: bill price

bill price — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:25:27 +0000

Why has no one filed for a “stay of execution” and requested an extension of the August 14th deadline?