Grange Supports High Speed Internet Access for Rural America

The National Grange ^ | Dec. 3, 2001 | Richard Weiss

[farmfriend]

These people all think I'm a RAT now. Oh well.

[farmfriend]

ping

[loveliberty]

This is a Democratic political issue, first brought to the fore by Bill Clinton and his lackeys.

In North Carolina, former Clinton Chief of Staffer Erskine Bowles returned to NC and set up something called the "Rural Prosperity Task Force" to involve leaders from all across the State to back Clinton's assertion that there was a so-called "digital divide." (What it was is another gimmick to establish a political base)

The fact of the matter is that rural areas in North Carolina already have access to the Internet, and in many remote rural areas, DSL is being provided by the Rural Cooperatives, who have been bringing advanced technologies to rural people since the 1950's.

For more information, visit the web site of www.jsitel.com (a consulting firm to the telecommunications industry), the National Telephone Cooperative Association www.ntca.org, or www.carolinalink.org, a North Carolina coalition of rural cooperatives.

Rural people in some of the most backwoods areas of North Carolina and other states can get DSL, while Verizon customers near Washington, D.C., and other major cities are still waiting.

[bibarnes]

DSL won't work on Fiber Optic. Only copper. The problem in rural areas is that the Central Offices are too far apart to be able to provide DSL or ADSL. High speed access will come to rural areas some time. If not DSL it will be some other broad band technology. There are manufacturing plants that are beginning to locate in rural areas because of the friendlier atmosphere. They need the higher speed but may not be able to justify the expense of T1 or better. In the mean time we will be patient and sit on our porches watching the sun set and the horses graze and put up with speeds in the 14K - 44K range.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

The only solution I found is 2 way satellite.
I am in a rural area and DSL or Cable will never reach here.
The phone lines are very poor when it rains a lot.
I got starband.net in July and am VERY pleased with it.

[mrjeff]

As a technology guy in a rural area, I can tell you that the local telcos are not going to help us. There are many technologies on the horizon - everything from wireless broadband, to ip over power lines, to improved satellite service. I am on 2-way satellite right now (starband) and next year I will definitely switch to wild blue. More are on the way.

[farmfriend]

This Bill provides limited interLATA data relief to Bell companies for the purpose of hauling data over the Internet backbone networks so this area of the Internet is subject to increased competition.

[farmfriend]

I miss spoke about the fiber optics. See post 27.

[arielb]

I support the idea. I believe it's a valid function of the government
Section 8. The Congress shall have power...
To establish post offices and post roads;
To promote the progress of science and useful arts...

[B Knotts]

Satellite isn't a viable alternative because its latency is too high due to the distance from the earth of the satellites.

There is a plan to deploy Low Earth Orbit satellite systems, which will address this problem. I don't know yet if they will market directly to rural residents, however.

Also, there is equipment available which allows 128 kpbs on a 120,000 (!) foot loop. Unfortunately, it has not been widely adopted.

[JohnGalt]

Do you generally think the government should pay for things the market is rejecting?

I am surprised you did not cite the general welfare clause.

[farmfriend]

market is rejecting?

The market is not rejecting this. The market is asking for specific deregulation in exchange they will be required to upgrade central office equipment to provide high-speed access.

[JohnGalt]

I have no issue with you; I think your proposal is reasonable enough. I was responding to another chap who thinks we should kick in a few dollars...

[farmfriend]

This is a Democratic political issue, first brought to the fore by Bill Clinton and his lackeys.

H.R.1542 Sponsor: Rep Tauzin, W. J. (Billy)(introduced 4/24/2001)

And just where did you get your information?

[B Knotts]

Actually, it looks like it's even better now...GoDigital is now selling equipment that can do 1.5 mbps up to 100,000 ft.!

Unfortunately, the telcos have little interest in this, I'm afraid.

[Ben Ficklin]

Tech Central Station.com has published much on this subject over the last several months. They don't think much of Tauzin's bill.

[B Knotts]

Nitpicking self...should be 1.5 Mbps...

[meia]

In the early part of the 20th century, didn't the federal government mandate that electricity and phone lines had to be run to rural customers no matter how far they lived out in the boonies? Didn't this result in the advantages and conveniences of electricity and phone service being available to everyone in the country regardless of where they lived?

[tacticalogic]

Anybody know the command string to get a Hayes modem to dial two longs and a short?

[Leroy S. Mort]

The market is not rejecting this. The market is asking for specific deregulation in exchange they will be required to upgrade central office equipment to provide high-speed access.

In theory it sounds like a good idea. But I question 1) whether the technology exists and 2) whether the Telcos can make a buck from it. What I DON'T want to see is something like the telephone charge we all now pay to support rural telephone service. Folks in the hinterlands can limp along at 44K forever before I'd support that.