[TriLUG] TW and Embarq work to keep Wilson style internet from spreading

[Michael Kimsal]

On Wed, May 6, 2009 at 11:18 AM, Jeremy Portzer <jeremyp at pobox.com> wrote:

> Michael Kimsal wrote:
>
>  Is internet service something we should regard as something on par with
>> basic telephone/telecom and electricity and water?  I tend to think so.
>> This isn't just an issue of people surfing youtube at home.  Small
>> businesses will locate where there's strong internet connectivity.
>>  Smaller
>> towns lose out in this respect.  Students being able to take advantage of
>> distance learning from home (sick, disabled, accelerated, whatever) is an
>> issue as well - some students don't have access to good internet service
>> and
>> are not able to access learning resources that students in other areas
>> can.
>>
>
> I work for a company that provides software for online education so this is
> an area I'm familiar with.  Some of our clients - schools and universities -
> are now "requiring" broadband Internet connections of their students.  This
> is usually defined as something like 1.5 Mbit down, 256k up, required due to
> the use of rich media. I'm curious to know more about what areas of NC may
> not have access to that level of broadband?  How many areas are truly devoid
> of DSL or cable to that level?  (Satellite isn't really usable for distance
> learning if two-way voice communications are in use, due to latency.)
>


Obviously Wilson, NC was at least one.  I live in Youngsville, and while I'm
only a few miles from a large Embarq HQ of some sort, and they see fit to
mail me glossy brochures every month for DSL service, they also don't
service my area.  TW cable modem is the only option I have.

Take a look at
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r22213854-

I'm presuming that his information is accurate, of course.  If it is, it's
eye-opening.
===================================

So I looked at TW's 10-K form and noticed something interesting... *their
cost to provide broadband service has decreased about 11% since the year
before*. Yes, you heard that right.

*In 2007, TW made $3,730 Million,* on high speed data alone, and then had to
turn around and spend $164 Million to support the cost of the network. 2007
total profit on high speed data: *$3.566 Billion*

*In 2008, TW made $4,159 Million,* on high speed data alone, and then had to
turn around and spend $146 Million to support the cost of the network. 2008
total profit on high speed data: *$4.013 Billion*

*It cost TW 11% less money in 2008, to keep their network running, than in
2007.* Their cost to deliver network connectivity to each user has dropped
as they highlight here:
===================================

If company X says "we are not going to service your market, and we are going
to try to LEGISLATE barriers to people providing the service to themselves",
that's just wrong.

Unless I'm mistaken, Wilson had asked TW and Embarq for service and was
denied by both companies.  Now they want to come in and dictate *how* people
can provide service to themselves?

-- 
Michael Kimsal
http://jsmag.com - for javascript developers
http://groovymag.com - for groovy developers
919.827.4724