"This is not just a university issue," Regents President Harvey Jewett of Aberdeen told a legislative committee recently. "This is a full state issue. Without Internet Three, well, imagine South Dakota without interstate."
The price tag -- $8 million to build it, maybe $1.5 million annually to maintain it, if we cooperate with other states -- doesn't seem too bad. But if we build it, we should adopt the same philosophy as we do with the Interstate highways: everyone pays for it, everyone has access to it. If the state builds Internet Three, it should include access for every school, business, and home in the state so everyone can directly enjoy the benefit of this public good (and Erin and I can blog and promote the people's revolution even more efficiently).
Here in Nebraska, the powers that be in the state legislature blew it this year.
ReplyDeleteThey passed a law banning public power utilities from offering internet services.
It's an odd stance for Nebraska. It's the only state with 100% public power. The power companies here are all publicly owned. The idea is power, like a road, is something all people should have access to, and all people should have a say in.
So I was a little surprised when they decided internet was philosophically different that power and roads. I had hoped otherwise.