Monthly Newsletter
The NOFA is released and everyone is sorting through the 120 page document and scheduling workshops. The workshops are nationwide and well attended by telcos and many other companies with their ideas on how to provide broadband. With the grading system in place there will not be financing approved for two projects in one area. The primary concern is the time frame
for the application process and deployment once approved. Any project over $1 million requires a Professional Engineer which surprised some of the companies. The applications are due August 14th and any received on August 15th will be rejected, no questions asked. The application process for the RUS (BIP) application is 56 questions with dozens of attachments to fill out and the NTIA (BTOP) requires some additional information. Timing is not the best as the construction schedule will fall into the winter months for projects in the northern areas that will possibly impact the deadlines given in the NOFA. The additional concerns are a shortage of engineers, contractors and materials to meet the deadlines once the process is completed.
Where are we headed?
Albert Einstein once said technological progress is like an axe in the hands of a pathological criminal. Some drag their feet toward change and in the end usually get run over. We can’t stop it and don’t want to. With all that has been said on the Broadband Stimulus it may be the best thing to come. Those who have been in the business defend the landline and then check their flight on a cell phone and wonder why it is taking so long.
Cable companies in the phone business and Telephone companies in the video business, who would have believed it a few years ago?
Just as a sanity check, in the past 30 years we have evolved through numerous mediums for music, LP’s, 8 track tapes, reel to reel, audio cassettes, CD’s and now music downloads. We went from transistor radios to Walkman's and now ipods. In short time all music and video will be downloaded and not through a landline. We resisted every change of music medium but the advancements in technology were worth every cent. I’m not even going to go through the game machines starting with Pong up to the online gaming.
Ask a thirty year old the time, he will look at his cell phone. Ask a child to ring a door bell, they will use their thumb instead of their finger due to gaming and texting. When is the last time we penned a letter to someone
instead of texting or emailing. Most people in business now prefer email over a phone call as it is faster and more efficient.
In the past twenty five years we have seen a tremendous change in technology and adapted well. We need to design a network that will make people want to go home and enjoy their media rooms, hi-tech home offices
and wizardry. What will the next ten years bring if the stimulus plan is properly implemented?
