[LINK] The internet should be for everyone

[Chris Johnson]

On Tue, 05 Jul 2016 16:27:22 +1000 JanW wrote:

> I find it amazing that the country could build an electricity grid,

a rail network, a road network, and HUGE water pipelines many many
decades ago,

but now is afraid to invest in building the 21st century equivalent.

If people back then behaved as they are today, we would still be walking
or riding horses.
> 

Not every network pays back its costs, and at any time - not only in
days of cost-benefit/user-pays/debt aversion  - building improvements to
an existing network service is very expensive.
You would not be surprised if you looked at the history in a little more
detail.
The first British railway phase made enormous profits - subsequent
railways typically lost money but the larger network provided enormous
social benefits. The opportunities to replace slow, low capacity
packhorse, cart, and winding 5kmh canal boats were quickly exploited.
(equivalent of providing the first internet access?).
The second phase of railway constriction including Australian railways
never made much money - too many routes with low traffic, constructed at
high prices to have wide reach (sound familiar?). Very high speed rail
is now effective on only a few routes, does not haul goods traffic, and
does not go to the door - taxis and Ubers take benefits of the last
haulage. The new HS2 high speed rail link in England is estimated to
cost UKP 50 billion for about 170 miles.

-- 
Chris Johnson
p 02 6282 1993    m 0401 498 684