Friday, February 19, 2010

Now I Can Get The Castle Wired, I Hope

From the Biz Times:
Gov. Jim Doyle and U.S. Deputy Commerce Secretary Dennis Hightower today announced that Wisconsin will invest $28.7 million to expand broadband Internet access throughout rural parts of the state.

The state will receive $22.9 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (federal stimulus) funds to help provide high-speed Internet access to 467 sites in more than 380 communities in all the state’s 72 counties.

“High-speed Internet access is critical to the success of our state’s entrepreneurs, businesses, students and families,” Doyle said. “This project will create jobs to lay and install fiber cable, for telecommunications contractors and technicians, and in fields like construction, manufacturing, masonry and electrical wiring. Through the Recovery Act, the Obama administration is making major investments in Wisconsin’s broadband infrastructure to help our schools and libraries access high-speed Internet.”

Wisconsin is receiving one of several national Recovery Act grants for broadband development. The state’s project will expand broadband Internet access to 74 schools, eight post-secondary schools including two tribal colleges, and 385 libraries. Eighty-four percent of the school districts and colleges receiving the grant are in rural areas.

More than 200 miles of fiber optic cable will be installed, and more than $10 million will be spent on American-made telecommunications equipment and materials.
Of course, Scott Walker will be complaining about this too. In his eyes, students and rural people aren't real people either. Of course, the real reason he hates it is because then I'd have the castle wired and he'd never catch a break.

8 comments:

  1. The cable will ONLY go to schools, libraries, and municipalities.

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  2. You have to set up hubs first before you can expand. Even you should be able to figure that one out.

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  3. I can get on the internet almost anywhere in the state via my wireless phone. If I need more speed any Starbucks, Panerra, etc. will do. And it didn't cost the state a dime.

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  4. I can't even get a cell phone signal at my place up north, much less Internet. Wisconsin has large swatches across the state that is nothing more than a giant dead zone.

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  5. Check out Verizon. They have the best GWN coverage. But they do tend to aim their coverage at highways.

    GWN = Great White North

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  6. Oh, and why should I subsidize someone's internet when no one subsidizes mine?

    Remember when Milwaukee was considering wi-fi'ing the city just to be cool? How would that be working out now?

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  7. So, why the hell should I subsidize you getting Internet? All that means is more Scott Walker bashing from the Castle.

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  8. A) It wouldn't just be me being subsidized. In fact, the castle is so far of the beaten trail that I doubt it would get to us anytime soon.

    B) Improving the access to Internet can only help people and commerce. If everyone is doing better, then the economy is doing better.

    TerryN- I have Verizon already.

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