Not only is it a business ethics question, but a business practice question. The phone company's own estimates claim only 1000 people as benefiting from this tower. You mention the 40 miles range. Yes, 40 miles in either direction of this tower, there are still only 1000 people. The phone co-op does not intend to profit from the service, they intend to profit by "leasing space on the tower to larger companies" (words of their CEO).
My intended emphasis of the comment is to agree with the initial post and provide another example where a rush to judgement by an ISP results in heartache, financial or otherwise. Poor business ethics can result in unhappy customers and investors.
Our valley is not the only one affected. These towers are a blight on the state of Montana, and anyone who has lived/visited there may very well appreciate that destruction of the natural splendor is a loss to us all.
-- Montana
As a student who's original home is a valley in rural Montana, I would seem to have a vested interest in wireless communications access throughout my homestate. Fast downloads and reliable access is something we do not currently enjoy through out local phone co-operative. Our valley is the size of Connecticut, but has only 5000 people . . . and no stop-lights.
By the same token, our valley rivals any in the United States in terms of beauty and splendor, with 9 snow-topped peaks standing majestically; extending beyond the limits of the naked eye. They are truly a sight to behold.
One day, my folks got out of bed, looked out the window, and immediately called me. It appeared that the phone co-op, in response to the lack of Internet access in the valley, had erected a 300 ft. tall red/white tower with 2 bright flashing lights!
The town's breathtaking view-shed has been destroyed. This tower was erected WITHOUT the consent of the community (a lack of zoning laws contributes to the problem). The phone co-op was capitalizing upon right-of-ways which expire in 6 months. They intend only to lease the space to larger companies, that they may shade in another circle on the map of the US, indicating "coverage." We have FEWER than 1000 residents in the immediate line of sight of the tower.
I am a computer engineering student. I love technology. I am a conservationist, not an environmentalist. But I am frustrated by the blatant disregard of factors larger than technological advancement and profit.
Slashdot Mirror
My intended emphasis of the comment is to agree with the initial post and provide another example where a rush to judgement by an ISP results in heartache, financial or otherwise. Poor business ethics can result in unhappy customers and investors.
Our valley is not the only one affected. These towers are a blight on the state of Montana, and anyone who has lived/visited there may very well appreciate that destruction of the natural splendor is a loss to us all. -- Montana
By the same token, our valley rivals any in the United States in terms of beauty and splendor, with 9 snow-topped peaks standing majestically; extending beyond the limits of the naked eye. They are truly a sight to behold.
One day, my folks got out of bed, looked out the window, and immediately called me. It appeared that the phone co-op, in response to the lack of Internet access in the valley, had erected a 300 ft. tall red/white tower with 2 bright flashing lights!
The town's breathtaking view-shed has been destroyed. This tower was erected WITHOUT the consent of the community (a lack of zoning laws contributes to the problem). The phone co-op was capitalizing upon right-of-ways which expire in 6 months. They intend only to lease the space to larger companies, that they may shade in another circle on the map of the US, indicating "coverage." We have FEWER than 1000 residents in the immediate line of sight of the tower.
I am a computer engineering student. I love technology. I am a conservationist, not an environmentalist. But I am frustrated by the blatant disregard of factors larger than technological advancement and profit.
-- Montana
. . . the Last Best Place.