Posted on 02/24/2014 7:28:50 AM PST by Dallas59
In 1982, rock star Pete Townsend asked Americans to call their cable operators and, "Demand your MTV. I want my MTV!" It's 2014, and two-minute music videos on a cable channel have given way to high-definition movies, concerts and sports streamed live to your TV, computer and phone. So where the heck is my superfast gigabit Internet access? Who do I even call?
We know it's technically feasible. Google GOOG +0.85% Fiber, with speeds up to 100 times faster than the basic broadband provided by your cable or phone company, is already up and running in Kansas City, Mo.; Austin, Texas; and Provo, Utah. And last week, Google announced it's in talks with 34 more cities. Even Chattanooga has gigabit broadband in 56,000 homes and businesses provided by the city-owned electric company, of all things
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
That’s interesting.
I just read that Google is looking at a vast expansion of their fiber effort.
The issue is just like landline. Established fiber/cable will be fighting to keep their market. Tho there time of easy $50 fee is going to be trimmed just like Wireless bills will be trimmed. The easy ride is coming to an end. The FCC will have to open up the wireless market to allow more providers to have signal on towers as the world becomes more LTE.
Pete Townsend is definitely not the guy you want to start off an article about Teh Intarwebz.
It was for research. Research.
Sorry—5mb cannot compete with gigabit.
Boo-fricking-hoo.
I could ask "Where the heck is my basic DSL or cable?"
A U.S. Fed Gov 2010 survey found that 40% of US residents do not have broadband internet.
I happen to be part of that 40%.
No DSL. No cable.
So, forgive me if I have no sympathy for those whining about not have "super-fast" internet. The author should consider him/herself fortunate to have any type of broadband.
/end rant
I spent years on dialup, and even bought a device so i could answer the phone while online, and would let it run all night to download a free Christian movie (I want to be legal), but now have Verizon for DSL for 30.00 a month.
Yet i is only 7mbps, and yet it was up to 15mbps just over the hill where we lived for 20 years. Same plan, but Verizon said the wires were newer.
And it looks like FIOS is stalled from further deployment.
AT&T the owner of a majority of the land lines and switching equipment is in a transition from landlines to tower based communications. So much so minimal maintenance is being done on the current landlines. AT&T has gone from a person seeing a half a dozen AT&T service vans a day in any mid size city to a rarity. The only question really is will they complete the transition before the now aging cables and trunking systems to outlying areas begin to fail due to age?
The lines in my area were replaced in the late 1970's as well as the SLICK System installed and then only because my dad a long time Ma Bell employee went to the state Public Service Commission because the lines in our neighborhood failed every time it rained.
Good point about the nap. I would have like ten or fifteen going at the same time.
There really was a thrill to see the bars finally completed.
I’m glad I got to experience the internet in its infancy.
I also fear I may live to see its demise.
The question is whether the government decides the freedom it gives us is outweighed by the governments increased ability to use it to spy on us.
We shall see.
I just got LTE and I was wrong its 15mb
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