On this subject I have a fair amount of subject expertise. Like first hand knowledge of why Congress approved the e-rate in an effort to level out the public education playing fields. This matters
Spicey - since you were there (not sure how we haven’t met, I know a couple guys who worked in sales at UUNET) I’m still at a loss at how a government financed and created infrastructure couldn’t find a way to address last mile connectivity. I worked for a guy who was Reed Hunts right hand and worked w/providers on the ramp up and roll out of broadband and I can assure you no one was sparing any expense on “consulting” fees. Why didn’t the government require public use as a priority at the outset instead of allowing it to be an afterthought? Seems like they could have learned something about this from building the electricity grid. Maybe I should just be glad no one put Texas in charge.......oh....wait.....
Sorry I was super slammed at work - part of the US Communities GWAC contract allowed State & Local to “utilize” Fed pricing - the main issue was finding the dark fiber laid. I can speak to actual 1st hand experience on this - in the DMV (DC MD VA)
1) find the dark fiber laid (who has right of way -rows -in various easements)
1a) map out the fiber and ROWs
1b) figure out if it was MM or SM fiber -Corning polish is a thing
2) find access points to and verify capacity
BUT - one of the biggest issues was dark fiber was laid underground but there wasn’t a cost effective way to access it - enter ribbon cutting (specialized tool)
3) once you find the fiber network is usable without a massive overhaul of connectivity then the problem becomes where are the termination points
At the time I had a few clients and we utilized Wireless Antennas (super fun times scaling 9+ stories during the rain & major thunderstorms) with polarized binoculars to get the right line of sight to each building. Fun fact a wireless network I built 19 years ago is still used by that County Government because when I was in Telco I mapped out networks to be scalable and easy to retrofit with CSU/DSUs and factored in IP4 to IP6 to MPLS - because the goal back then was to build a tank but easy to upgrade. So in short some of my clients utilized e-rate and it addressed both rural and xburb needs
Near and dear to my own heart. We’re in South Dakota and rural and tribal access are true issues. I remember a conversation long ago with a colleague, can’t remember the specifics except the topic: Do you think the US should have made the internet more like a public utility?
In retrospect YES it would have been smarter for the internet to be a public utility but the issue was “cash is king” and “capitalism reigns supreme”
-at the time I was one of those who pushed for a Co-Op IP infrastructure. I told lawmakers if we applied the same principals used in NRTC and other small “energy co-ops” we could meet the need, especially to rural communities by riding the power (alternatively water, DOT or power easements) that idea was “novel” but I also pointed to the “exclusivity of MDUs” in NYC and how the FCC would break up that monopoly. In the end I was recruited by a partner at a law firm because we would constantly be on opposing sides of the telecom negotiation table. It took him 19 months to convince me to leave my career and work for him. He said I was an animal and he hated negotiating with me because I tended to get the better of him. /snort
I wish they had done it because I pointed to various local governments collecting video “franchise” fees which could net local government millions in dollars and explained it would be a public utility like water and power. In retrospect I should have pushed harder but I was only a single voice and the telco company I worked for didn’t want to lose the revenue
Spicey - since you were there (not sure how we haven’t met, I know a couple guys who worked in sales at UUNET) I’m still at a loss at how a government financed and created infrastructure couldn’t find a way to address last mile connectivity. I worked for a guy who was Reed Hunts right hand and worked w/providers on the ramp up and roll out of broadband and I can assure you no one was sparing any expense on “consulting” fees. Why didn’t the government require public use as a priority at the outset instead of allowing it to be an afterthought? Seems like they could have learned something about this from building the electricity grid. Maybe I should just be glad no one put Texas in charge.......oh....wait.....
Sorry I was super slammed at work - part of the US Communities GWAC contract allowed State & Local to “utilize” Fed pricing - the main issue was finding the dark fiber laid. I can speak to actual 1st hand experience on this - in the DMV (DC MD VA)
1) find the dark fiber laid (who has right of way -rows -in various easements)
1a) map out the fiber and ROWs
1b) figure out if it was MM or SM fiber -Corning polish is a thing
2) find access points to and verify capacity
BUT - one of the biggest issues was dark fiber was laid underground but there wasn’t a cost effective way to access it - enter ribbon cutting (specialized tool)
3) once you find the fiber network is usable without a massive overhaul of connectivity then the problem becomes where are the termination points
At the time I had a few clients and we utilized Wireless Antennas (super fun times scaling 9+ stories during the rain & major thunderstorms) with polarized binoculars to get the right line of sight to each building. Fun fact a wireless network I built 19 years ago is still used by that County Government because when I was in Telco I mapped out networks to be scalable and easy to retrofit with CSU/DSUs and factored in IP4 to IP6 to MPLS - because the goal back then was to build a tank but easy to upgrade. So in short some of my clients utilized e-rate and it addressed both rural and xburb needs
Sounds like you were (we know you are) an extremely conscientious employee. Why on earth would anyone let you go!!?
In the telecom industry poaching was part of the business model but I ultimately decided to leave and switch careers
Lucky for us... I hope the career change brings great satisfaction. Thank you btw!
Near and dear to my own heart. We’re in South Dakota and rural and tribal access are true issues. I remember a conversation long ago with a colleague, can’t remember the specifics except the topic: Do you think the US should have made the internet more like a public utility?
In retrospect YES it would have been smarter for the internet to be a public utility but the issue was “cash is king” and “capitalism reigns supreme”
-at the time I was one of those who pushed for a Co-Op IP infrastructure. I told lawmakers if we applied the same principals used in NRTC and other small “energy co-ops” we could meet the need, especially to rural communities by riding the power (alternatively water, DOT or power easements) that idea was “novel” but I also pointed to the “exclusivity of MDUs” in NYC and how the FCC would break up that monopoly. In the end I was recruited by a partner at a law firm because we would constantly be on opposing sides of the telecom negotiation table. It took him 19 months to convince me to leave my career and work for him. He said I was an animal and he hated negotiating with me because I tended to get the better of him. /snort
aaahhhh, good ole capitalism... The American way
Exactly.......sigh.
That would make too much sense!
I wish they had done it because I pointed to various local governments collecting video “franchise” fees which could net local government millions in dollars and explained it would be a public utility like water and power. In retrospect I should have pushed harder but I was only a single voice and the telco company I worked for didn’t want to lose the revenue