[LINK] Business fetishism (was Re: LINK] Four Corners NBN)

[Michael Skeggs mike@bystander.net]

On 14 April 2011 12:59, Jan Whitaker <jwhit at melbpc.org.au> wrote:

> At 12:45 PM 14/04/2011, Michael Skeggs mike at bystander.net you wrote:
> >Surely this is arse about backwards? Why would a location with low costs
> >(the bush) import services from a high cost (city) location?
>
> huh? Bush is low cost? I don't see it. Education in the bush can't be
> considered 'low cost' because of the small student numbers. If the
> breadth of curriculum were to be offered that is available in larger
> city schools, it would be impossible to pay for. Fuel is more
> expensive in the bush. Housing is cheaper, sure. It may be important
> to include the components of 'low costs' or even 'high costs'.
>
>
In places where the NBN will be available on fibre (assuming the wireless
version won't be particularly revolutionary) there are many towns and
regional cities where housing costs are low, as are incomes. These places
have plenty of population scale to support schools etc. and suffer none of
the over-crowding penalties (congestion etc.) of the cities. I went to a big
suburban school, but we didn't have Geology as an option at HSC, and there
were only two languages on offer. A town like Bathurst or Coffs Harbour has
the size to offer a full range of mainstream services, with lower housing
and wage costs. In my opinion, these regional centres are where the biggest
benefits of the NBN will be felt.

Regards,
Michael Skeggs