Comments on: Comment on the 6/16 Oregonian Article https://personaltelco.net/blog/2008/06/16/comment-on-the-616-oregonian-article/ News from our volunteers Sat, 23 May 2015 00:44:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mike Rogoway https://personaltelco.net/blog/2008/06/16/comment-on-the-616-oregonian-article/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Mike Rogoway Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:07:12 +0000 http://blog.personaltelco.net/?p=26#comment-50 Thanks for the feedback, Michael. In fairness, I think the article wasn't as pessimistic as you suggest. I tried to illustrate that there are many potential alternatives, at Personal Telco and elsewhere, if people pursue them: <blockquote>Though no one has a quick fix for the Internet have-nots, there's some cause for hope that the failure of Portland's citywide network might inspire more modest replacements to serve those who can least afford their own Web access. And new technologies could open the door to more competition, and cheaper access, in the years to come.</blockquote> -- Mike Thanks for the feedback, Michael. In fairness, I think the article wasn’t as pessimistic as you suggest. I tried to illustrate that there are many potential alternatives, at Personal Telco and elsewhere, if people pursue them:

Though no one has a quick fix for the Internet have-nots, there’s some cause for hope that the failure of Portland’s citywide network might inspire more modest replacements to serve those who can least afford their own Web access. And new technologies could open the door to more competition, and cheaper access, in the years to come.

– Mike

]]> By: Rory Conaway https://personaltelco.net/blog/2008/06/16/comment-on-the-616-oregonian-article/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Rory Conaway Tue, 17 Jun 2008 03:50:10 +0000 http://blog.personaltelco.net/?p=26#comment-48 If the cities can go with the idea that users might have to pay something, even if it's $10, to get access, then our company and many others would be in the ballgame. We are deploying systems with the plan of allowing some very low cost access to break the digital divide wall down. We expect to have 4 cities online before the end of the year and should be able to demonstrate that even those rates can be profitable. It's still better than free that goes out of business. If the cities can go with the idea that users might have to pay something, even if it’s $10, to get access, then our company and many others would be in the ballgame. We are deploying systems with the plan of allowing some very low cost access to break the digital divide wall down. We expect to have 4 cities online before the end of the year and should be able to demonstrate that even those rates can be profitable. It’s still better than free that goes out of business.

]]>