[LINK] Priorities [WAS: Battery back-up mandatory for NBN?]

[Bernard Robertson-Dunn]

On 7/11/2010 9:51 AM, David Boxall wrote:
> On 5/11/2010 11:36 AM, Bernard Robertson-Dunn wrote:
>   >  ... If we had $43b to spend only once, ...
> OK, _if_ we assume that $43 billion of taxpayer's money is to be spent
> (which is not true), then dividing that figure by the population yields
> approximately $2,000 per head. That is to be spent over eight years:
> $250 per year. Which is about $5 per week or 70 cents per day.
>
> Coupled with the fact that, as a nation, we have income rather than a
> static fortune, does that bring the matter into perspective?

It takes more than just financial resources to implement a project like 
the NBN. Apart from the skills and expertise required to roll it out, 
there's the political capital needed to sell it. Politicians could spend 
their time (and potentially credibility) selling or working on other 
things. It will also tie up many private sector enterprises.

Has anyone identified potential downsides to an NBN? I don't know of 
any, but they are not always immediately apparent. There have been 
reports in the media recently about the potential dangers of letting 
people use in-flight communications. Terrorists could use the facilities 
to trigger explosive devices.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19665-aircraft-bomb-finds-may-spell-end-for-inflight-wifi.html

As I've said before, solutions to problems cause other problems

-- 

Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Canberra Australia
email:	 brd at iimetro.com.au
website: www.drbrd.com