Fiber is Cheaper than Asphalt
Tim Whitney, an IT consultant writing in the Faquier Times-Democrat, opines that telecommuting could be a more cost-effective way of relieving traffic congestion than expanding transportation capacity. The key to making telecommuting a viable alternative is to "bring broadband to the masses."
Says Whitney: "We need a federal and state "Broadbandification Act" or "BBA: Broadband for All" -- yesterday. This would be similar to the Rural Electrification Act of 1935, to open up the broadband markets and get real competition going for delivering broadband to every single home and business in the U.S."
I would add only this: The potential goes beyond enabling people to work at home two or three days a week. The potential exists to create a "mobile workforce," or a "distributed workforce" that decouples workers from the workplace in a way not envisioned by simple telecommuting. Find my thoughts here: "Rush Hour Will Never Be the Same."
posted by James A. Bacon @ 9:40 AM
3 comments
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3 Comments:
EMR has stated the rural electrification act was a major mistake that contributes to scattered development. How will this be any different?
Also telecommuting is not applicable or only partially so to shipping, retail, construction, manufacturing and other major sectors of our economy.
I notice you didn't mention the letter entitled "We should facilitate flight from the cities" a response to a prvious letter stating sprawl was responsible for the collapse of society, crime, and everyother known ill.
Of course, one way to facilitate that flight is with broadband, preferably free broadband, which might mean we have to put up some communication towers.
If you look at today's photo of Houston, you realize it is hard to evacuate a city on fiber.
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