More of the Same From Telcos in Broadband Dispute

Telecom industry, UW System battle over broadband.    (Wisconsin State Journal, 8/21/2011)

Excerpt:    Last year, UW-Extension was awarded about $32.3 million in federal grants to build 630 miles of fiber optic cable to four Wisconsin communities: Platteville, Wausau, Superior and the Chippewa Valley region. A separate grant of $5.1 million to UW-Madison will pay for building a network in the Madison area.

The cables will connect government buildings, libraries, schools and medical facilities to form what are called Community Area Networks (CANs). It will not go to private businesses or homes.

Although many of those facilities already have some access to broadband, proponents say having their own network will reduce costs. It will allow schools and cities to pool resources and ensure public facilities can handle an ever-increasing amount of information, according to grant supporters.

For instance, UW-Superior’s broadband already is at 85 percent capacity, said Mary Schoeler, chief information officer. She worries about the increasing bandwidth needs for researchers, especially those working on major federal grants.

In the Platteville area, library users complain about getting kicked off the Internet because it’s too slow, and the senior center can’t handle streaming video, said April Fuhr, community outreach coordinator for the Platteville network.

She said because job-seekers often use library computers to fill out applications, it’s critical that Internet access is sufficient.

“A lot of times they get timed out because the speeds are so low,” she said. “You tell anyone who’s been working on an online form for two hours, ‘Sorry it’s gone.’”


The telco representatives interviewed for this article aren't asked to respond to any of these realities, including Wisconsin's national ranking of 43rd place for high-speed Internet access..  The reporter allows them to repeat their standard talking points ad nauseum.

Related WiscNet/BCCB posts:

Jeff Dawson sheds some light on WiscNet.  (8/10/2011)
About the Access Wisconsin lawsuit.  (8/5/2011)
Case summary with names of defendants' attorneys.  (8/4/2011)
An example of how advocacy works.  (7/31/2011)
From Peter C. Anderson's Court Official Calendar for Dane County.  (7/24/2011)
Lawsuit update and summary.  (7/22/2011)
Judge Anderson denies UW broadband restraining order.  (7/21/2011)
Plaintiffs v. Defendants.  (7/20/2011)
Telcos whine while Wisconsin falls behind.  (7/20/2011)
Access Wisconsin news release.  (7/19/2011)
LRB clarifies WiscNet veto. (6/30/2011)
WiscNet:  Moving Forward.  (6/30/2011)
Walker's WiscNet veto:  What does it mean?  (6/27/2011)
Rest assured they'll be more fights in this battle.  (6/24/2011)
Wisconsin Senate passes budget.  (6/17/2011)
Amendment update.    (6/16/2011)
Assembly passes budget at 3:05 a.m.  (6/16/2011)
Wispolitics budget blog.  (6/15/2011)
Wisconsin ranks 43rd for broadband Internet coverage.  (6/15/2011)
Ron Kind news release.  (6/15/2011)
Assembly 8.  (6/15/2011)
Highest level alert.  (6/15/2011)
This is what democracy looks like.  (6/15/2011)
WSTA's day of disappointment.  (6/14/2011)
They can hear us now.  (6/14/2011)
Appleton Post-Crescent editorial.  (6/14/2011)
YouTube video.  (6/14/2011)
Hedberg Public Library promotes WiscNet.  (6/14/2011)
League of Wisconsin Municipalities press release.  (6/14/2011)
UW General Counsel opinion.  (6/13/2011)
Ars Technica WiscNet coverage.  (6/13/2011)
Wausau Daily Herald editorial.  (6/13/2011)
If your representative is Robin Vos...   (9/13/2011)
Baraboo School Board unhappy with JFC WiscNet action.  (6/13/2011)
WiscNet debate from the NE WI prospective.  (6/12/2011)
David Weinhold letter to editor.  (6122010
Rep. Moelpske's statement. (6/11/2011)
COLAND letter to Sen. Fitzgerald.  (6/10/2011)
Rhonda Puntney's op-ed piece.  (6/10/2011)
Nass letter to Fitzgerald and Vos.  (6/9/2011)
CINC response.  (6/9/2011)
UW response.  (6/9/2011)
Manna from heaven.  (6/8/2011)

Fiasco:  School Administrators Alliance unhappy with JFC WiscNet action.  (6/8/2011)

Sen. Pam Galloway and Rep. Jerry Petrowski need to hear about WiscNet from their constituents.  (6/8/2011)
But, federal funds to expand high-speed Internet could be reviewed.  (6/8/2011)

Sen. Vinehout statement.  (6/7/2011)
Rep. Clark statement.  (6/7/2011)
Tony Evers' memo.  (6/7/2011)
Unintended consequence of section 25?  (6/7/2011)
Section 23: what the fuss is about.  (6/7/2011)
A crowbar:  A tool we don't need for WiscNet.  (6/7/2011)
WiscNet needs your attention and immediate action.  (6/6/2011)
The end of WiscNet as we know it.  (6/5/2011)