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How Much Does a New Internet Cost?

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the someone-call-al-gore dept.

wschalle writes "Given the recent flurry of articles concerning ISP over subscription, increasing bandwidth needs, and lack of infrastructure spending on the part of cable companies, I'm forced to wonder, what is the solution? How much would a properly upgraded internet backbone cost? How long would it take to make it happen? Will the cable companies step up before Verizon's FiOS becomes the face of broadband in America?"

15 of 446 comments (clear)

  1. About 49.95 a month, if I install it myself by Saint+Stephen · · Score: 5, Funny

    Whenever I move somewhere the first thing I do is call and get a new internet. It used to take about 6 weeks but now it only takes a couple of days. I'm living out here by the lake now so my internet got installed by some redneck but he did an okay job, my internet is fast enough.

    1. Re:About 49.95 a month, if I install it myself by Lordpidey · · Score: 2, Funny

      Wow, a redneck? I thought rednecks were only interested in trucks. And the internet is not a truck. Its a series of tubes.

      --
      Some people encrypt by using rot-13 twice. I prefer the more secure method of using rot-1 a total of twenty six times.
    2. Re:About 49.95 a month, if I install it myself by RealGrouchy · · Score: 2, Funny

      If you move out to the boonies, you can get an Internet on a CD from AOL. Then you don't have to get a guy to install it for you.

      Comes with all sorts of games, too!

      Although one problem I've had with AOL is no matter how many times I call their tech support, they won't get it to work without the modem cable plugged in--even when the CD-ROM is in the drive! But they send me another CD with an Internet on it, and it works ok for a while.

      - RG>

      --
      Hey pal, this isn't a pleasantforest, so don't waste my time with pleasantries!
  2. Re:Tell you what... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yes, but then the poor bastards in Iraq would be without FREEDOM!

  3. Ask my staff by Baumi · · Score: 3, Funny

    An internet was sent by my staff at 10 o'clock in the morning on Friday and I just got it yesterday. Unfortunately, they didn't tell me how much they paid.

    1. Re:Ask my staff by plover · · Score: 2, Funny

      According to Google products, really cheap tubes are about $0.10 per foot. Of course, those can get all tangled up with your own personal internets. It's not something you just dump something on. It's not a big truck.

      --
      John
  4. Re:Tell you what... by starkravingmad · · Score: 5, Funny

    As my economics professor used to say, we could have dropped washing machines on Vietnam and achieved the same result, and probably killed fewer people.

  5. One simple solution by SECProto · · Score: 5, Funny

    Probably the cheapest solution is to kill a couple billion people. that will reduce demand for a fair bit of time.

    1. Re:One simple solution by jon287 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Ha! Then the phone company would just claim that there aren't enough subscribers in your area to make a broadband deployment feasible, then ask you if you'd like to be put on a waiting list to be notified if it ever becomes available in your area!

      (Hint: There is no list, they just put your name on a giant board at the telco along with all of the other suckers on dail-up so everyone can have a good laugh.)

      --
      To boldly use to and too two times and get it right too! They're not gonna believe their eyes when they see it there!
    2. Re:One simple solution by hoojus · · Score: 2, Funny

      Can we start with the MySpace users? That would free up a lot of bandwidth and then remove all bloggers....

  6. Forget Infrastructure! Broadband Over Powerlines! by morari · · Score: 2, Funny

    Now if only those ham radio operators would shut up and sign off!

    --
    "He who can destroy a thing, controls a thing." --Paul Atreides, Dune
  7. I'm going to have to go with... by Xanius · · Score: 2, Funny

    One dollar Bob.

  8. Re:Just Because by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'll get back to you later on the "pigs" thing. Give me some time to figure out what you meant by it.

    I think I can help giving that project some wheels. I had already made a start on that project some time ago. Currently, I have achieved the milestone where I can temporarily make it smell as if pigs will come flying out soon.

    Next milestone is to make the smell sustainable longer. I think breakeven will occur at about seven pounds of beans and nineteen onions. Maybe somebody with more eating experience can pitch in and help?

  9. Re:Here's your answer: by chuckymonkey · · Score: 2, Funny

    At first I read that as stinky finger......I laughed in a nervous uncomfortable kind of way until I realized that it said pinky finger. Ahh I love being at work at 2:13 in the morning.

    --
    "Some books contain the machinery required to create and sustain universes."-Tycho
  10. Dear USA, bend over. by crovira · · Score: 3, Funny

    You have been getting bent over and done dry (and paying in surcharges, and surcharges on the surcharges,) for the last twenty five years.

    And we have been replacing copper networks FOR OURSELVES during that time, but NOT delivering ONE INCH of what you've been paying for to you suckers.

    We, the telcos, have been sitting on a growing pile of your tax dollars and using the latest and best technologies to our own benefit and WE'RE not about to stop doing so until a couple of CEOs get sent to prison.

    Screw you,

    -the telcos

    --
    MSBPodcast.com The opinions expressed here are my own. If you don't like 'em... Think up your own stuff.