All posts in the topic SofC - Broadband (Short link)

From: Christopher Mitchell Date: Mar 24 17:13 UTC Short link

I love living in St. Paul and I think we are doing as good or better
than our peers.

However, one of the few things that could lure me away from the city is
access to fast, cheap broadband networks.  St. Paul suffers from a
duopoly and shows no promise for faster networks from the private
sector.  Both AT&T and Verizon are making the investments our incumbents
aren't.

For a variety of reasons, I think St. Paul needs to make some smart
investments in this area.  I think the first step should be for the city
to invest in a fiber network that will meet the needs (dare I say as
well, the desires) of the City, the Public Schools, the County (within
St. Paul) and the State (within St. Paul).

These entities all have a great need for faster networks to do their
business and become more efficient.  They will need them for decades -
paying others to build them and run them makes no economic sense.  These
are systems the City can and should run to make sure all agencies have
the speeds they need without breaking their (our) budget.

That should be the first step.  Depending on how well that goes, the
City should consider expanding the network to offer affordable speeds to
everyone.  In St. Paul, most folks have 2 choices for broadband, but 1
in 3 only have cable as an option.  Neither is particularly affordable
for people struggling to get by.  These people need access to search for
jobs, educate themselves, and ensure their children have the best access
to educational resources.

St. Paul can build a network to connect everyone and allow private
competitors to use it (by wholesaling access).  Public investments in
infrastructure are good for business.  This particular investment can
actually pay for itself over time - something roads don't do.

However important they were in the past, fast networks are now essential
infrastructure.  If St. Paul does not ensure it businesses and citizens
have access to fast networks at affordable prices, we will not be able
to compete with those who do.

This isn't entirely about luring new businesses to St. Paul - it is
about ensuring those that are here can expand and continue to compete.

Christopher Mitchell
wondering why my draft N wireless card is arguing with my G router after
  1.5 years of harmonious fraternity - at least my cat5 is getting some
love.
    

From: Jan Carr Date: Mar 24 19:51 UTC Short link

Here's an article from the March 22 NYT, which explains why these
Wi-Fi initiatives in other cities have been troubled.

Basically, "............   momentum has sputtered to a standstill,
tripped up by unrealistic ambitions and technological glitches. The
conclusion that such ventures would not be profitable led to sudden
withdrawals by service providers like EarthLink, the Internet company
that had effectively cornered the market on the efforts by the larger
cities."

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/22/us/22wireless.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=community+internet+service&st=nyt&oref=slogin

Whether or not cities should step in to make the considerable
investment required  to either build or subsidize a wi-fi  system is
going to be a contentious issue.

I attended the first two of the Mayor's town hall meetings, and my
impression is that he has people who are on top of the issue, but
they seem to be holding back to see how this issue sorts out
nationally. And, given the uncertainties, I think that's a prudent
course.
    

At 12:21 PM -0500 3/24/08, Christopher Mitchell wrote:
>I love living in St. Paul and I think we are doing as good or better
>than our peers.
>
>However, one of the few things that could lure me away from the city is
>access to fast, cheap broadband networks.  St. Paul suffers from a
>duopoly and shows no promise for faster networks from the private
>sector.  Both AT&T and Verizon are making the investments our incumbents
>aren't.
>
>For a variety of reasons, I think St. Paul needs to make some smart
>investments in this area.  I think the first step should be for the city
>to invest in a fiber network that will meet the needs (dare I say as
>well, the desires) of the City, the Public Schools, the County (within
>St. Paul) and the State (within St. Paul).
>
>
>
>Christopher Mitchell
>wondering why my draft N wireless card is arguing with my G router after
>   1.5 years of harmonious fraternity - at least my cat5 is getting some
>love.
>
>
>Christopher Mitchell
>Merriam Park, Saint Paul
>Info about Christopher Mitchell:
>http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/christophermitchell
>
>


--
Jan Carr
1000 Portland Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55104

Cell:  651-341-8441

STP-DOG
St. Paul Dog Owners Group

"Parks for People with Dogs"

Join our Google Group:

http://groups.google.com/group/st_paul_ppwd?hl=en

From: Jan Carr Date: Mar 25 19:09 UTC Short link

Christopher,

While governments have traditionally built transportation networks,
traditionally, the private sector has assumed responsibility for
communications and power networks (phones, tv, radio, electricity,
natural gas). The exception is the postal system, but even there, the
private sector (UPS, Fed Ex et al) seems to do it better than the
government.

I think we need to be exceedingly leery about encouraging local
government to undertake the considerable investment required for
either a wi-fi or fiber optic system.

I don't know zilch about all this, but I know you will now probably
trot out the TVA and the REA.........<G>

The bottom line is, however, that after getting a property tax
increase that took my breath away, I'm not anxious for the city to
raise my taxes still again to build a fiber optic system.
    

At 1:09 PM -0500 3/25/08, Christopher Mitchell wrote:
>  > Basically, "............   momentum has sputtered to a standstill,
>>  tripped up by unrealistic ambitions and technological glitches. The
>>  conclusion that such ventures would not be profitable led to sudden
>>  withdrawals by service providers like EarthLink, the Internet company
>>  that had effectively cornered the market on the efforts by the larger
>>  cities."
>>
>>
>>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/22/us/22wireless.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=community+internet+service&st=nyt&oref=slogin
>
>Jan - thank you for bringing that up.  The network I have in mind would
>be fiber-optic based rather than wireless.  Wireless could be a part of
>it, but not in the way that other cities have depended on companies like
>Earthlink to do it.
>
>As for whether it would work, St. Paul would need to consider what it
>could get out of the network (increased efficiency for mobile gov't
>workers, police officers)  before deciding it the investment were worth it.
>
>>  Whether or not cities should step in to make the considerable investment
>>  required  to either build or subsidize a wi-fi  system is going to be a
>>  contentious issue.
>
>Always - and as it should be =)
>Building a fiber network would be more expensive and much more
>contentious.  However, I think it makes the most sense for the City to
>first build a network that would solve government and schooling needs
>within the city.
>
>Currently the City gets most of its connectivity from Comcast in the
>form of an Institutional Network from its franchise agreement.  This
>network, once state-of-the-art, no longer meets the City's needs.  In 5
>years, the franchise expires.  Few expect cable companies to continue
>providing these services to cities - new contracts tend to be structured
>differently.
>
>So St. Paul will soon need to figure out how to meet its connectivity
>needs.  I believe the City should do what any massive institution would
>do (and what large companies do) - build its own fiber network to
>connect its buildings.  Despite the high upfront costs, it makes more
>sense than leasing indefinitely.
>...
>
>In response to John Harris' excellent points regarding the other things
>that need to be done in order to deal with the digital divide - such as
>getting computers into homes and making sure they keep working - there
>are groups working on those issues now and the problem certainly will
>not go away.  There are many issues here but I believe a serious
>discussion about building a network is a good first step.
>


--
Jan Carr
1000 Portland Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55104

Cell:  651-341-8441

STP-DOG
St. Paul Dog Owners Group

"Parks for People with Dogs"

Join our Google Group:

http://groups.google.com/group/st_paul_ppwd?hl=en