FiberNet officially bit the dust; however, as this Hibbing Daily Tribune story explains, at least one of the project’s strongest backers, Hibbing City Administrator Brian Redshaw, believes there is hope for high speed internet delivered Range wide in the future. I agree and share those hopes. We need to prepare infrastructure for the future of this region while our mining production tax revenue is higher now than it ever will be again. Internet is a utility. Those who currently provide commercial Internet service enjoy the fact that they can price and deliver the product the same as a Jelly of the Month club, selling it for whatever they can get and not shipping anywhere where jelly is hard to deliver.
The private sector must get on board or else they are just short-sightedly participating in the continued technological decline of the United States of America, while simultaneously choking out hope for a diverse Iron Range economy in the year 2040. Let’s get something done.
Aaron – Thanks for your coverage of this issue.
It’s so unfortunate for the people and businesses in these rural communities that incumbent providers have been so successful in spreading FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt) to retain their market position. The Blandin on Broadband blog yesterday posted about this turn of events, along with an interview with project consultant Gary Fields. http://www.blandinonbroadband.wordpress.com
It’s interesting to note that while this story unfolds on the Iron Range, the folks down in Monticello are knee deep in a suit brought by their incumbent provider. http://monticellotimes.com/articles/2008/07/31/opinion/guest_columnists/11mitchellfiber.prt
Providing a service that has risen to the level of a utility should not be dictated by a short-sighted business model. Our communities simply can’t afford what they’re selling.