Comments on: WiMAX Auction 86 results: rural America gets screwed again http://www.muniwireless.com/2009/12/14/wimax-auction-86-results-rural-america-gets-screwed-again/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wimax-auction-86-results-rural-america-gets-screwed-again Citywide WiFi, smart grid, enterprise wireless, public safety, mobile apps Sun, 12 Feb 2012 01:38:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tom Ayers http://www.muniwireless.com/2009/12/14/wimax-auction-86-results-rural-america-gets-screwed-again/#comment-39990 Tom Ayers Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:20:50 +0000 http://www.muniwireless.com/?p=12164#comment-39990 A century ago, when inexpensive electricity was available to only a small fraction of the U.S. population, incumbent suppliers of electricity sought to prevent the public sector from offering electricity for many of the same reasons incumbent broadband providers now argue against community broadband deployment and services. Back then, incumbents sought to limit competition by arguing that local governments didn’t have the expertise to offer something as complex as electricity. They argued that their own businesses would suffer if they faced competition from cities and towns. Local community leaders recognized that their economic survival and the health and welfare of their citizens depended on wiring their communities. They understood that it would take both private and public investment to bring electricity to all Americans. Fortunately, they prevailed. Just as municipal electric systems proved critical to making access to electric service universal in the 20th Century, municipal networks can make broadband access universal in the 21st Century--as long as they have the freedom to do so. “Broadband to every American is key to maintaining our economic leadership” Dr. Benjamin Hooks, civil rights giant talking tonight at FCC meeting in Memphis, TN. A century ago, when inexpensive electricity was available to only a small fraction of the U.S. population, incumbent suppliers of electricity sought to prevent the public sector from offering electricity for many of the same reasons incumbent broadband providers now argue against community broadband deployment and services. Back then, incumbents sought to limit competition by arguing that local governments didn’t have the expertise to offer something as complex as electricity. They argued that their own businesses would suffer if they faced competition from cities and towns. Local community leaders recognized that their economic survival and the health and welfare of their citizens depended on wiring their communities. They understood that it would take both private and public investment to bring electricity to all Americans. Fortunately, they prevailed.

Just as municipal electric systems proved critical to making access to electric service universal in the 20th Century, municipal networks can make broadband access universal in the 21st Century–as long as they have the freedom to do so.

“Broadband to every American is key to maintaining our economic leadership” Dr. Benjamin Hooks, civil rights giant talking tonight at FCC meeting in Memphis, TN.

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