I think the difference is when the municipality starts throwing in free or highly subsidized layer 3 connectivity "free with every layer 1 connection"
Matthew Kaufman (Sent from my iPhone) > On Jul 21, 2014, at 12:08 PM, Blake Dunlap <iki...@gmail.com> wrote: > > My power is pretty much always on, my water is pretty much always on > and safe, my sewer system works, etc etc... > > Why is layer 1 internet magically different from every other utility? > > -Blake > >> On Mon, Jul 21, 2014 at 1:38 PM, William Herrin <b...@herrin.us> wrote: >>> On Mon, Jul 21, 2014 at 10:20 AM, Jay Ashworth <j...@baylink.com> wrote: >>> Over the last decade, 19 states have made it illegal for municipalities >>> to own fiber networks >> >> Hi Jay, >> >> Everything government does, it does badly. Without exception. There >> are many things government does better than any private organization >> is likely to sustain, but even those things it does slowly and at an >> exorbitant price. >> >> Muni fiber is a competition killer. You can't beat city hall; once >> built it's not practical to compete, even with better service, so >> residents are stuck with only the overpriced (either directly or via >> taxes), usually underpowered and always one-size-fits-all network >> access which results. As an ISP I watched something similar happen in >> Altoona PA a decade and a half ago. It was a travesty. >> >> The only exception I see to this would be if localities were >> constrained to providing point to point and point to multipoint >> communications infrastructure within the locality on a reasonable and >> non-discriminatory basis. The competition that would foster on the >> services side might outweigh the damage on the infrastructure side. >> Like public roads facilitate efficient transportation and freight >> despite the cost and potholes, though that's an imperfect simile. >> >> Regards, >> Bill Herrin >> >> >> -- >> William Herrin ................ her...@dirtside.com b...@herrin.us >> Owner, Dirtside Systems ......... Web: <http://www.dirtside.com/> >> Can I solve your unusual networking challenges?
