[LINK] Seniors broadband scheme unveiled

[Marghanita da Cruz]

Glen Turner wrote:
> Leah Manta wrote:
> 
>> Isn't it time to Telco act was changed - AGAIN - like it was suppose 
>> to be - to allow anyone to set up an open access Wifi in their 
>> community for internet access, and finally, once and for all, flat 
>> rate pipes, not bytes.  Like it was suppose to be.
> 
> You can do that. Lots of people do.
> 
> Larger rollouts tend to fail simply because telecoms is a
> capital-intensive industry and that isn't a good fit with
> community-based fund raising.
> 
> If you are looking to revolutionise Australian telecoms
> then the question to ask is about open-access ducts in
> new developments and the role of local councils in
> providing ducting and fiber when doing other street
> works.

This would  be a big change as Local Councils currently rent the street verges to
Telcos and other providers. The model has been extended to advertisers who
supply and maintain bus shelters, benches and rubbish bins.

Who would fun the work and would we end up where we started with government 
owned and maintained infrastructure.

> 
> Also, the incredible over-build in some Telecoms sectors
> (such as mobile base stations) argues for a more effective
> way of developing wireless towers and forcing carriers into
> facilities sharing and better quality of streetscape. Now
> that we have basic telephony to all Australians, a lot of
> the extraordinary property rights of carriers isn't justified,
> and trimming these rights would force a more rational sharing
> of facilities.
> 
> 

If we are talking about streetscapes it isn't just the telcos to be covered - 
what about other utilities - electricity, gas and roads?

Marghanita
-- 
Marghanita da Cruz
http://www.ramin.com.au
Phone: (+61)0414 869202