[PLUG-TALK] PDX to get Google Fibre

[Russell Senior]

>>>>> "Russell" == Russell Johnson <russ at dimstar.net> writes:

rss> Naturally.  It doesn't require them to do anything.

rss> Like the expression "if you aren't paying for it, you are the
rss> product", this is the kind of passive "someone else will solve
rss> the problem" attitude that never solves the problem.

Russell> So, if the city pays for it, it's bad because it causes
Russell> taxes to go up.

Taxes would not go up.  Taxes don't pay for utilities, rates pay for
utilities.  With public ownership, rates go down, historically.

Russell> If private enterprise pays for it, it's bad because that
Russell> makes us the product.

That "you are the product" expression is intended to remind people of
the exchange that is occurring, so they can judge whether it is a good
exchange.

In the infrastructure context, private capital supposedly takes risks.
They invest, they get to keep the profit if their risk pays off.  In
the current (and indefinite future) regulatory environment, the owners
also get to keep immense control.  I'm suggesting the public would get
a much better deal if they did the investing instead.


-- 
Russell Senior, President
russell at personaltelco.net