[LINK] The Liberal's broadband proposal.

David Boxall david.boxall at hunterlink.net.au
Wed Aug 11 11:03:49 AEST 2010


On 11/08/2010 9:35 AM, Bernard Robertson-Dunn wrote:
> from
> http://www.liberal.org.au/Latest-News/2010/08/10/Real-Action-on-Broadband.aspx
>> Instead of creating a new inefficient Government run monopoly, the
>> Coalition’s plan will stimulate a vibrant, private sector-based
>> broadband market, with Government involved to encourage competition
>> and ensure services reach all Australians.
>
> Can anyone explain to me what this competition is supposed to be?
>
> Are they suggesting that people will have a choice of at least two
> broadband suppliers?
>
> If this is the case, then doesn't that mean that there will be at least
> two sets of broadband infrastructure? Isn't that rather a waste?
Those in the most lucrative areas may well get to choose from many sets 
of broadband infrastructure. The others can suck it up.

It's only a waste if done by government. I the private sector does it, 
it's healthy competition. Nobody could argue with that.

> ...

For me, the coalition is ahead on telecommunications. The filter negates 
Labor's NBN. The coalition won't win this point on technical grounds. 
They would win if they fight the filter. They probably won't do that 
because they fear losing the lunatic and ignoramus votes.

What loses Labor my vote isn't so much the filter itself as the 
pathological authoritarianism it exemplifies. For the Coalition, the 
lingering stench of Work Choices does much the same.

-- 
David Boxall                         | ignorance more frequently
                                     | begets confidence than does
http://david.boxall.id.au            | knowledge
                                     | --Charles Darwin (introduction
                                     |  to 'The Descent of Man' 1871)



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