[1st-mile-nm] IEEE: 5G is in Danger of Being Oversold

[John Osmon]

On Thu, Mar 01, 2018 at 10:10:09PM +0000, John Badal wrote:
> You mean by subsidizing the costs of FTTH through allocation of some
> of the network to the electric coops’ SCADA systems, and then
> increasing pole attachment fees for their broadband competitors, the
> electric coops make their business case?  I’m envious.  I haven’t seen
> that shell game since the old AT&T/Ma Bell days.

Not all coop ventures are as you characterize.

In northern New Mexico, one of the coops built a dial-up ISP in the last
1990s, and early 2000s.  The did it on request of their members, because
all of their ISP alternatives were long distance calls -- making
Internet connectivity prohibitively expensive.  They weren't a *great*
ISP, but they provided service where others wouldn't.

Eventually, the local dialing area expanded, their local presence wasn't
required anymore.  They sold the customers to a regional ISP, who kept
the access number and folded it into their service portfolio.

The Coop helped their members, and at the end, recouped some of the
investment they'd made.

Let's help make more of these success stories.  (And to shine light on
the types of issues John points out as well!)