Could We Beam Broadband Internet Into Iran?

abenamer writes "Some reporter at a recent White House press briefing just asked the White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs, this question: Was 'the White House....considering beaming broad capability into Iran via satellite so the opposition forces would be able to communicate with themselves and the outside world?' 'Gibbs said he didn't know such a thing was possible. (Is it?) But he said he would check on the technological feasibility and get back with an answer.' I'm not sure what the reporter meant by beaming broadband into Iran: Do they even have 3G? Would we bomb the Iranians with SIM cards that would allow them to get text messages from the VOA? Or somehow put up massive Wi-Fi transmitters from Iraq and beam it into Iran? How would you beam broadband into Iran?"

Comments

Ummm

[Anonymous Coward]

Could they beam broadband into New York City first? Thanks.

Re:Ummm

[Jurily]

Maybe to get widespread broadband, the US needs an emerging tyra.. oh wait.

Re:Ummm

[amicusNYCL]

How is an emerging tyrannosaurus (presumably a fossil just being uncovered) going to help with widespread broadband?

Re:Ummm

[JPLemme]

I think he meant "Tyra Banks". Her emergence will drive demand for broadband, or something.

Re:Ummm

[CarpetShark]

What's the point? NY doesn't have anywhere near as much (potential for) oil as Iran.

An extention of the Sharks with Lasers Idea...

[Het Irv]

Camels with Wifi!

Re:An extention of the Sharks with Lasers Idea...

[TRS80NT]

You laugh but it could be true. In the early 70s I lived in Asmara, Ethiopia (now Eritria). Our place was on the edge of town and we often saw camel trains plodding in from the hills headed for the marketplace. The lead camel usually had a blaring transistor radio around its neck. I always wondered if the lead camel driver had a radio because he was the leader or if he was the leader because he had a radio.

Re:Balloons?

[eln]

Just make the balloons festive colors and tell them we're throwing a nationwide party for Achmadinejad to celebrate his election. Air drop some party hats and noise makers. I'm sure they won't suspect a thing.

Re:Satellite tech.

[damburger]

Give the handsets to the guys who smuggle booze in over the Turkish border. They've been giving Iranian authorities the runaround for years.

Be not afraid of Internet;

[booyabazooka]

Some are born with Internet, some pay a lot for Internet, and others have Internet thrust upon them.

Any historians in the audience?

[jerhurwitz]

Where there any revolutions recorded in history before the internet existed? Sorry if this seems like a dumb question. Maybe someone is doing their thesis on it or something.

Re:Nokia / Siemens could provide an answer

[LandDolphin]

Guess he meant to say we don't legally sell guns to Iran.