From the always astute Dave Burstein.
Dave's key observation:
This action is a very strong implicit argument for a municipal WiFi build, like Philadelphia’s, providing basic access to all at a small price or free.
My concurrence:
To encourage muni wifi (for free public internet access), I like to use an analogy to public libraries -- they allow those who cannot afford to buy books to read them. This does NOT harm bookstores thru lost sales -- in fact, it helps them by increasing the number of lifelong readers.
More importantly, free public libraries also greatly benefit society overall, as they provide to those who may lack resources today, the opportunity to access tools they'll need for their future success.
-------------------> Joe
Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 20:53:31 -0400 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: Dave Burstein <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: DSL Prime Cable's 50 Meg challenge
DSL Prime
Verizon Killing WiFi Wants people to buy $80 EV-DO
<<snip>>
Verizon Killing WiFi
Wants people to buy $80 EV-DO
WiFi had infinite hype three years ago, but Verizon is now shutting down what had been their showcase build in New York City. Bobbi Henson explains "We're shutting down the service because it didn't live up to our expectations in usage, ... It doesn't make any sense to keep a service up and running when there's no demand." WiFi demand is much higher where the deployment is wide and the price very low, like Japan.
The story was buried in the last paragraph of a wireless press release, but Broadband Wireless and then DSL Reports found it. This is a dramatic reversal of Verizon's once proud plans to run WiFi across New York City and then throughout their territory. Verizon was a pioneer of that service, but pulled back because amazingly few people actually used it, despite a free password for all Verizon DSL customers.
This action is a very strong implicit argument for a municipal WiFi build, like Philadelphia’s, providing basic access to all at a small price or free. We need a service that brings the internet to families who can't afford $34+ a month, and low costs for wireless make that a possible tool. A city can afford to wait ten years for a payback on a wireless investment, not the two or three a telco typically expects. Lower prices create a virtuous circle; the increased volume reduces the cost per home, especially on wireless.
I believe Ivan's made a strategic mistake here; the best way to meet the push for municipal competition is to offer great service yourself. If Verizon Wireless were ubiquitous and affordable, the city wouldn't be considering building their own network. But it appears Verizon is abandoning the low cost wireless data market. It's the right thing for New York and other cities to connect families who cannot afford more than $10 or $15 for their daughter's internet. There's no technology reason they can't be served with EV-DO 3G, of course, but that would require dropping the price by 80%.
Copyright 2005 Dave Burstein. Volume 6, #17 Issue date 4/27/05 Reply "Un" to be dropped, "subscribe" to be added.
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======================= Joe Plotkin DSL/Marketing Bway.net - NYC's Best Internet ======================= Bway.net 459 Broadway, 2nd floor New York, NY 10013
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