[Hidden-tech] WiredWest fiberoptic broadband

Ed Morris ed_morris at comcast.net
Thu Apr 15 03:16:01 EDT 2010

Previous message: [Hidden-tech] WiredWest fiberoptic broadband
Next message: [Hidden-tech] WiredWest fiberoptic broadband
Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]

points taken, thanks. by the way, here's an interesting article showing a trend that may or may not help justify rural internet access:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ytech_gadg/ytech_gadg_tc1598

-Ed Morris
----- Original Message -----
From: Reva Reck
To: 'Hidden Tech'
Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 7:35 PM
Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] WiredWest fiberoptic broadband

** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
** If you did, we all thank you.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I can't fault you for being skeptical, but the fact is that many parts of Western Mass might not, even now, have electrical or phone service if we had relied on commercial providers. While you can make a modest profit on a fiber optic network in a sparsely populated area, there is not enough return on investment to justify Verizon or Comcast committing resources. At best, they'll bring service to the more densely settled parts of town, and then the rest of us are still without service.

Since WiredWest is in business primarily to bring universal broadband access participating towns, we look at AVERAGE connection costs for our entire service area, not at incremental costs to connect the folks that live far apart. This has been done in other rural areas, and it can be done sustainably, meaning without taxpayer subsidies. You're right that it will take a while. We have a lot of initial prep work to do before we can start building the network, but I am there is no doubt in my mind that WiredWest will reach me with fiber at least 2 decades before Verizon does!

Reva Reck

reva at revareck.com

Ed Morris wrote:
** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
** If you did, we all thank you.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appologies for posting with a tone of skepticism, I commend coordinated community action when something needs to be done - but it seems by the time a small local inititive if/when gets agreed, funded and moving, other options may become more attractive:

http://www.high-speed-internet-access-guide.com/satellite/rural-internet.html

http://www.massbroadband.org/

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3pressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Agov3&b=pressrelease&f=032510_broadband&csid=Agov3

I don't think it's a matter of 'IF' high speed internet access will ever reach rural areas, it's more a matter of when. Back when roads were starting to be built around the US, rural communities didn't try to pave their own...they advocated the gov and dealt with country road until the funding made it out their way. This is one reason property value and property taxes are more expensive in more populated areas: the choice of convienence. Like paved roads, high speed utility access will eventually make it to you and everywhere....you'll just have a bumpy ride till then. :)

-Ed Morris
----- Original Message -----
From: Town Websites
To: 'Hidden Tech'
Sent: Monday, April 12, 2010 3:07 PM
Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] WiredWest fiberoptic broadband

** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
** If you did, we all thank you.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Nestor, the towns identified by the Wired West initiative are those that currently have limited or no broadband access. I don't think Wired West formed as an anti business initiative, but rather a pro-resident one in an area where the private sector hasn't been able to identify a business model to provide nearly universal access.

I don't know a lot about Wired West except what I learned in a brief conversation with one of the members of its board. It sounds like a group of tech savvy residents in underserved towns who think there may be a better way to do things in a rural area than by following the business and service models that work well in higher density areas. I hope they've crunched their numbers, technologies, and residents interests well enough to actually deliver but regardless, I applaud their taking the initiative and wish them well, whether the end result is exactly as they have imagined or some other outcome that extends the reach of broadband to underserved towns.

Charlie Heath

Town Websites

From: hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net [mailto:hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net] On Behalf Of nestor at fuzzy-math.com
Sent: Monday, April 12, 2010 11:32 AM
To: Reva Reck
Cc: Hidden Tech
Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] WiredWest fiberoptic broadband

Wow, this is great! I did notice, however, that there are not any towns on the main "corridor" that have joined in. This seems like a great alternative to Comcast, Charter, etc... hopefully towns such as NoHo, Greenfield, etc would also see this as an opportunity to bring in future-proof infrastructure improvements at a time when the future of open and democratic communications are unsure.

On Apr 10, 2010, at 3:59 PM, Reva Reck wrote:

** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
** If you did, we all thank you.

Those of you who live in western Mass. towns with limited or no broadband should know about an exciting new initiative to bring fiber optic cable to anyone with a landline phone or grid electricity in participating towns. WiredWest will be a municipally controlled, non-taxpayer funded company offering really fast internet, hdTV, and phone services. Over 30 towns have placed articles on their town meeting warrants to join together to create this network.

To see if your town is involved, and to learn more about this effort, visit http://wired-west.net/

Reva Reck

reva at revareck.com

_______________________________________________
Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net
Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
_______________________________________________
Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net
Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net

You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list.
If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members
page on the Hidden Tech Web site.
http://www.hidden-tech.net/members
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
_______________________________________________
Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net
Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 9.0.801 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2808 - Release Date: 04/13/10 02:32:00

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

_______________________________________________
Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net
Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net

You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list.
If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members
page on the Hidden Tech Web site.
http://www.hidden-tech.net/members
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.hidden-tech.net/pipermail/hidden-discuss/attachments/20100415/d849efb0/attachment-0001.html

Previous message: [Hidden-tech] WiredWest fiberoptic broadband
Next message: [Hidden-tech] WiredWest fiberoptic broadband
Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]

More information about the Hidden-discuss mailing list