Broadband Debated Dave Rogers, whose
Broadband Debated
Dave Rogers, whose blog is full of good stuff, writes in response to our “Free the Broadband” bloggerino:
I agree that great connections for all is a worthy goal that reflects the reasons we fought them Redcoats. “Connect and empower” is my mantra. Yet I’m not sure that the tech industry’s approach is the right one.
Did you see this report from MSNBC? It sure makes me—liberal that I am—queasy. Queasy enough that I blogged on it myself right here and even responded (weakly) to your comments here.
My original bloggerino referenced a draft of a site that David Isenberg and I did, called “The Paradox of the Best Network.” It has a set of suggestions quite similar to what TechNet has come up with.
The difference between Dave and me on this probably comes down to perceived facts. It seems to me that the current regulated environment props up aging telcos that refuse to allow competition in the broadband market. But we may also disagree on the solution: I think opening the market would bring about an era of innovation that would deliver broadband to the vast majority of houses in the nation (and the government ought to step in where the market lacks intrinsic incentives). I’m not sure if this makes me a liberal, a neo-conservative, or just plain wrong, but that’s how it seems to me. There’s also a telco meltdown coming that may require government intervention, primarily to let it happen without melting the economy down with it. And let me conclude this proclamation by noting that I don’t know what the hell I’m talking about.
Davd Rogers also points us to an article by Lawrence Lessig that argues that the legal strictures on copyrighted material are holding up broadband acceptance. Much as I’d like to see changes in the copyright law, I’m not convinced that that’s what’s stopping customer demand for broadband.
Categories: Uncategorized dw
Dave,
Broadband has gained great penetration since you started this topic. Take a look at a recent article packed with intersting facts.
Broadband officially rules the Internet
Plus, high-tech rickshaws, XP flaws and more
By Jackie Cohen, CBS Marketwatch
Broadband across America
Broadband has finally superseded dialup connections to the Internet, according to the latest measurements by Nielsen NetRatings.
Nielsen reports broadband is used by 63 million users, or 51 percent of the U.S. online population, up from 38 percent last year.
Only 61.3 million households still use dialup, a figure 13 percent lower than last year’s tally.
“We expect to see this aggressive growth rate continue through next year, when the majority of Internet users will be accessing the Internet via a broadband connection,” said Marc Ryan, senior director and analyst for Nielsen NetRatings.
“Not surprisingly, the younger set, which grew up with PC technology, has the highest penetration of broadband access,” he added.
Not surprising, says Nolan Quan, Internet Pioneer, “new products like MSN TV 2 from Microsoft are being offered at $199 (msn dot com), RealOne from rival Real Networks is offered at $12.95 per month (realone dot com), and newcomer AccessMedia (accessmedia dot tv), who claims to have the all time killer application with AccessMedia listed at $249.95, but streets for about $120, have joined in providing outstanding services for the broadband users.”
The future of the Internet will revolve around community sites like MySpace and YouTube, but the next generation community site will be Broadcaster.com. This community will focus on thousands of people being Broadcasters of their own unique programming content to millions of other community members and allowing millions of community members to “talk” and see each other using webcams. The service is, of course, free to everyone.