[TriLUG] OT: URGENT: H.129 to be heard in Thursday's Finance Committee!

[Chris Merrill]

On 3/15/2011 11:03 AM, Michael Peters wrote:
> But basically it comes down to this: Is it time for high-speed internet to become infrastructure
> like roads, water, power, gas, trash pickup, etc.
> 
> There's a lot of room for disagreement on this point, but I think the answer is yes. 

There certainly is a lot of room...and I think the answer is no.  We are not ready
for this to be infrastructure yet.

Think about the big infrastructures you mentioned - roads, water, gas, electric.
They are mature technologies whose requirements have not changed substantially
for decades (centuries in some cases).  Put in a water line and you can safely
assume it won't need to be upgraded for 50-100 years.

Internet access is very different from this.  Bandwidth consumption by residences
is doubling every few years.  This is still an industry in its infancy.  When it
becomes a utility, you are stuck with it the way it is...potentially for a very
long time.  How long are you willing to commit yourself to a particular technology?

Chris


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