“Postmodernism is a change-or-be-changed world. The word is out: Reinvent yourself for the 21st century or die! Some would rather die than change.” Leonard Sweet, cultural historian.
A rather colorful (watch the language) email to a local TV station ripping them apart on the poor quality of their news (and therefore why the number of viewers continues to decline).
Daily Archives: July 4, 2004
Fiber to the Home?
Stanley Miller’s article on SBC’s Oconomowoc fiber to the home project (Paved over Pabst Farms new developments only) provides a useful look at what’s possible, if the monopolistic telco’s ever are motivated to provide reasonable internet speeds (Japan and Korea already have very large scale, inexpensive deployments at these speeds). We in the tech industry refer to these type of projects as demoware.
David Isenberg reviews an interesting recent study (May, 2004) by Telcordia and Sanfor Bernstein (investment houses) called Fiber: Revolutionizing the Bell’s Telecom Networks. The study claims that fiber to the premises (FTTP) would reduce (by 30 to 90%!! the telco’s operating expenses (in other words, pay for itself over time, vs. the high costs of maintaining their aging copper networks. Interesting reading.
This is a critical economic development issue. Unfortunately, our politicians seem to have their head in the sand on this (SBC status quo lobbying helps, no doubt). I mentioned this issue to then candidate Jim Doyle at a pre election debate: “SBC’s telco stranglehold on Wisconsin is a major economic development problem” He replied (paraphrased); “you’re right, but we have other economic problems to address first”. I think he has this wrong. True high speed bi directional connectivity opens up enourmous new business opportunies.
Digital Television Liberation
Today, you can use any device you like with your television: VCR, TiVo, DVD recorder, home theater receiver, or a PC combining these functions and more. A year from now, when the FCC’s broadcast flag mandate [PDF] takes effect, some of those capabilities will be forbidden. Read more about the EFF’s anti broadcast flag initiative.