[LINK] Benefits of a digital economy enabled by the National Broadband Network

[Stilgherrian]

On 22/09/2010, at 6:37 AM, George Bray wrote:
> [...]
> 
> The opposition communications spokesman, Malcolm Turnbull, said when
> he was appointed last week that everything he had seen on the $43
> billion project demonstrated its financial investment could not be
> justified. Staff at Melbourne University have started working on a
> methodology to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the project, led by
> economist Joshua Gans, with funding from the Institute for a
> Broadband-Enabled Society.
> 
> <http://www.smh.com.au/business/telstra-becoming-impatient-with-delays-in-broadband-legislation-20100921-15lcr.html>


There's also an interview with Malcolm Turnbull on last Thursday's PM.

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2010/s3011623.htm

I find it interesting that when he steers away from the prepared talking points, he twice mentions "destruction of wealth" in relation to the international fibre over-build of the late 20th century. The viewpoint is very much that of the investment banker: the money should have been invested elsewhere for the better short-term gain.

There's nothing wrong with that viewpoint, of course, at least in the right context. The very question is whether this is the right context.

Stil


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