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The Cost Of Broadband In Every Rural Home

Posted by samzenpus on from the I-miss-real-internt dept.

dave562 writes "In an analysis of the effectiveness of the the 2009 stimulus program (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 or ARRA), one of the programs that was investigated was the project to bring broadband access to rural America. Some real interesting numbers popped out. Quoting the article: 'Eisenach and Caves looked at three areas that received stimulus funds, in the form of loans and direct grants, to expand broadband access in Southwestern Montana, Northwestern Kansas, and Northeastern Minnesota. The median household income in these areas is between $40,100 and $50,900. The median home prices are between $94,400 and $189,000.' So how much did it cost per unserved household to get them broadband access? A whopping $349,234, or many multiples of household income, and significantly more than the cost of a home itself.'"

4 of 381 comments (clear)

  1. Think harder... by grub · · Score: 2, Funny


    So how much did it cost per unserved household to get them broadband access? A whopping $349,234, or many multiples of household income, and significantly more than the cost of a home itself.

    Why don't they just run a single line into the center of the trailer park and install a switch for distribution?

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    1. Re:Think harder... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      A very old and boring story. City dwellers have been subsidizing rural folk since the start of the county. Think rural electrification, farm vehicle tax benefits, ethanol subsidies not to mention outrageous price supports for important foods such as milk and sugar. Alas these disparities are built into the basic structure of the country for each United States Senator has but a single vote no matter how many citizens he or she represents.

  2. Um... by rsilvergun · · Score: 3, Funny

    you do know what subsidies are for, right? They're to ensure a steady and affordable food supply and prevent starvation. Unless you're really, really rich, you want this.

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  3. Re:Warning, not exactly objective research here by mrsam · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm using a perfectly valid term to describe a group of people stupid enough to support Sarah Palin.

    It's no worse than "Democraps", "Rethuglicans", etc.

    There was a show on the Discovery Channel, I think it's off the air now, because my Tivo hadn't found it in a while, "Dirty Jobs". The host, Mike Rowe, went around the country, talking to folks whose jobs are the menial, thankless tasks that actually make civilized life possible for the rest of us. Like garbage collectors and people who work in sewer treatment plans. People who build highways, or maintain the nation's bridges and tunnels.

    I can't help but to notice a somewhat curious thought experiment here. What happens if we try a word association game, here. What would be the first thing that comes to one's mind, at the mention of the word "Tea Party". I'd bet that if you were to ask this to the average, salt-of-the-earth people that I've seen profiled on "Dirty Jobs", the typical answer we'll hear are things like "Boston Harbor", "The Liberty Bell", "George Washington crossing the Potomac", "taxation without representation", and many other historical images that relate and recall our nation's violent birth.

    But if the same thing were to be asked of you, or many other left-wing extremists, the first thing that comes to their mind is their face being slapped by a hairy scrotum.

    Just some food for thought.