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Raw Bytes Computer News KPBX FM 91.1 Radio National Public Radio Network Frank Delaney Producer Broadcast on Wednesday Morning 7:35 AM During Morning Edition Support Public Radio ! The Theater Of the Mind |
In computer news this week 03/17/2010 We’re # 19 ! We’re # 19 ! I was
watching CNN this week and I saw a mention of a Government agency that seems
to have been in hiding for decades, the FCC or Federal Communications
Commission. Talk about your stodgy old beaureaucratic
entity..... I’ve emailed them a few times over the years complaining
about the loudness of advertisements on TV, and they always weasel out of
doing anything for me, saying it’s not their job and I should complain
to the local station. I do know
what the FCC is all about, as I was a Viet Nam Era Navy Communications
Technician, and we were all over the frequency spectrums in our work. So
here’s the new chairmen of the FCC being interviewed on CNN saying that
the FCC will unveil its National Broadband
Plan to Congress today on St. Patrick’s Day ! Hey I’ll tip a green beer to
that thought ! You see,
as opposed to the current Winter Olympics where you heard the shouts of USA
fans shouting We’re #1 – when it comes to high speed internet
availability to our citizens compared to the world– we’re # 19 !!!
And if
you think that it’s an embarrassment that the leader of the free world
and the most technologically advanced nation in the world lags behind tiny
countries like Switzerland, Norway, the Netherlands, Australia, Britain, Iceland,
South Korea, Canada, France and several others – you’re right !!! In 2008
only 26% of our citizens had access to high speed internet, as opposed to 18
other countries with higher access. And do you know which country is # 1 ? Great shades of the ghost of Grace Kelly –
it’s Monaco !!!
Monaco is
#1 in both World broadband penetration by population
– 41 % and by household broadband penetration – 100% - every
household in Monaco is wired for High Speed Internet. Of course Monaco is a
constitutional Monarchy run by a prince and ruled by the same family since
1297 – but geez ...... And do
you know why this is, Boys and Girls ? Can you say Capitalism, Boys and Girls ? The FCC
is fighting the problem known as the domestic digital divide, which tends to
affect rural areas where carriers haven't see fit to extend network
connectivity due to the costs involved and the perceived difficulty in
getting a return on these investments. Simply this means people in big cities
have high speed internet, and the small towns and rural areas don’t. In
addition to increasing broadband among its citizens and households, The FCC
Chairman said he wants ISPs to
offer a minimum connection speed of 100 megabits per second by 2020.
Currently the most common high speed connection is 1.5 Mb DSL. Noble
plans, but the FCC just makes the rules, whereas all the
ISP’s that have created our #19 position - own the infrastructure.
We’ll see. |
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For Raw Bytes This is Frank Delaney (C) 2009 MTA Micro
Technology Associates http://www.mtamicro.com/kpbx.html PO Box 31522 Spokane, Wa 99223-1522 (509)624-7230 |
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