Broadband Bytes for 2009-10-31
- (@elforesto) Netflix will launch a streaming-only service (w00t!) but only outside the US (WHAAA?). http://is.gd/4y8qI #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Developing countries being left behind by expensive bandwidth. http://is.gd/4y8tZ #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Wisconsin latest state to realize it got taken for a ride on statewide franchises. http://is.gd/4CDaz #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Goodbye (and good riddance) to GeoCities. http://is.gd/4CD7Q #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Net neutrality opponent McCain getting big bucks from big ISPs. (Harry Reid is second, FYI.) http://is.gd/4CDdU #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Don't hold back; here's how to tell the FCC how you really feel. http://is.gd/4CDk1 #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Metro Ethernet close to peering standards. http://is.gd/4CDhJ #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Netflix invading PS3 next month. http://is.gd/4CDm4 #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) FairPoint goes Chapter 11. (Frontier, you're next.) http://is.gd/4CDo4 #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Worldwide Internet speeds and costs, visualized. http://is.gd/4CPFH #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Unraveling the layers of money and astroturfing from AT&T. http://is.gd/4DsVV #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) FIOS deployments slowing down. http://is.gd/4ElFr #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Google Voice wants to take over your wireless voice mail. http://is.gd/4ElQX #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Threatening to roll your own fiber spurs incumbents to act. http://is.gd/4FiLU #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) P2P use dropping in favor of other free (and legal) options. http://is.gd/4FRSY #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) FCC wants to take DTV spectrum for wireless data. http://is.gd/4FTT6 #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) What a lack of net neutrality could look like. http://is.gd/4FTRq #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Google CEO says that broadband availability is key to growing Utah's tech sector. http://is.gd/4Grxf #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) When metered broadband is everything but. http://is.gd/4HIrI #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) The Hulu free ride might not be over after all. http://is.gd/4IdYo #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) VoIP still making big bucks as landlines generally fall flat. http://is.gd/4Ity4 #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) TV Everywhere may not stop or recapture cord-cutters. http://is.gd/4ItC1 #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) FCC proposed congestion pricing for broadband. http://is.gd/4ItzJ #freeutopia #
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Et tu, Frontier? Incumbent Caught Sabotaging Installs in Tremonton
Hey Frontier? Remember how a Comcast contractor got that company some very unwanted public attention for screwing up installs? That means that your guys should try and avoid to do the same thing. I’ve gotten a report that several UTOPIA customers in Tremonton recently had their ATA for phone service hosed after a Frontier tech reconnected service without the customer’s authorization. The voltage from the line caused problems both making and receiving calls and required replacement equipment. The evidence? Previously disconnected lines from the ILEC had been reconnected to the building wiring after UTOPIA attached its line to the building wiring. That’s a piece of the NTI that only the phone company has access to.
Not only am I pretty sure that this kind of behavior is illegal, it’s also dangerous. What if these customers had needed to call emergency responders? You guys have much more important things to concentrate on anyway (like your impending bankruptcy after buying up those rural Verizon lines).
Comcast Reportedly Stealing UTOPIA Signs in Brigham City
I just got word that several witnesses have spotted Comcast salespeople stealing UTOPIA yard signs in Brigham City. Undoubtedly Comcast will try and distance themselves from the actions of their employees. Some of their contractors have already gone so far as to disconnect their competitors’ service to drive sales, so I suppose this doesn’t come as much of a surprise.
You stay classy, Comcast.
Broadband Bytes for 2009-10-26
- (@elforesto) Some Democrats join Republicans in criticizing net neutrality. http://is.gd/4ojSQ #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Is a PC worthless without an Internet connection? (Uh, yeah, pretty much.) http://is.gd/4ojQY #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Wiring anchor institutions could help push a national broadband network. http://is.gd/4ojUF #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) AT&T uses lack of regulation to jack up landline rates 22%. http://is.gd/4qSJu #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Web surfing boosts brain activity. http://is.gd/4sJ8y #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) A la carte suit fails, probably because it targeted service providers instead of programmers. http://is.gd/4sJa0 #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) AT&T asks its employees to shill against net neutrality. http://is.gd/4sJbi #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) IPv6 finally picking up steam with ISPs. http://is.gd/4sJcR #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Tru2way still MIA. http://is.gd/4sJeC #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) XBox Live brings Facebook, Twitter, Zune, and Last.FM to the party. http://is.gd/4sQ9I #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Verizon offers quadruple play. http://is.gd/4sQcb #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Google doing free WiFi on Virgin flights for two months. http://is.gd/4sQe7 #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Despite downtime, companies still love the cloud. http://is.gd/4ucZQ #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Small businesses use social media to hawk their wares. http://is.gd/4ue8m #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Cisco releases stats on Internet usage. http://is.gd/4uyAC #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) AT&T sues LCD makers for price-fixing, jacking up prices of 300M handsets. http://is.gd/4uyDe #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Comcast On Demand on your PC. http://is.gd/4uyEh #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) First white spaces deployment goes online in rural VA. http://is.gd/4uyGf #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) The broadband stimulus has kind of sucked. http://is.gd/4uFNt #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Verizon CEO runs mouth, proves he doesn't understand net neutrality. http://is.gd/4uFTl #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) DIsney to launch a multi-vendor digital video locker (for lack of a better description). http://is.gd/4uM0Q #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Google taking on iTunes? http://is.gd/4vVuh #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Red herring: net neutrality doesn't affect investment in the least. http://is.gd/4vVxs #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Facebook to get real games like Civilization IV. http://is.gd/4vVzB #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Windows 7 Media Center adds streaming from CBS, Zune, MSN, MSNBC. http://is.gd/4waQi #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Hulu prepares for seppuku (or, in other words, plans to charge for access). http://is.gd/4wx6X #freeutopia #
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Yes, BTOP is Broken
Geoff Daily recently took BTOP out to the woodshed over its glacial pace, poor oversight, and severe underfunding. Today, I got some personal confirmation that BTOP is likely entirely broken and won’t accomplish much, at least not on this first round.
Way back on September 17, I sent the following e-mail:
Hello,
I’m curious to know what state entity will be responsible for reviewing BTOP
applicants and applications, specifically in the state of Utah. Please
advise.
Just today, I get the following response:
Thank you for your interest in Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP). The BTOP application process encourages collaboration with the states in order to identify and fund the best possible broadband projects in America. A representative from a state may contact an applicant to request additional information contained in the application because of the state’s interest in making a recommendation to NTIA. Promptly replying to a state’s request allows the representative to carefully consider applications before commenting to NTIA. As a reminder, all Round 1 grant awardees will be determined by the end of the year.
Again, we appreciate your interest in the BTOP program to help bridge the technological divide and create jobs by expanding access to broadband throughout the nation.
Best Regards,
BTOP Team
There’s a few very glaring problems with what just happened here.
- The response is a canned form letter with no relevance whatsoever to the question asked.
- The response came 5 weeks after the original e-mail was sent.
- There is no longer an opportunity to communicate with the relevant persons at the state level because the deadline for their review has now passed.
Is this really the best that the NTIA can do? If so, I doubt we’re going to see any kind of meaningful federal effort to improve telecommunications infrastructure in this country.
Broadband Bytes for 2009-10-17
- (@elforesto) Copyright holders making 150x more from piracy than legit sales. http://is.gd/4ehAH #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Verizon customer crafts their own contract, gets charged a fortune anyway. http://is.gd/4fv7t #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Charter won't run service, yet it also lobbies to keep you from building a network. http://is.gd/4hI78 #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Blockbuster still imitating Neflix, shows up on TiVos. http://is.gd/4hOno #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Google accounts for 6% of all Internet traffic. http://is.gd/4jiX6 #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) 1Mbps connections become a legal right in Finland. http://is.gd/4jsmk #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Wireless bonding helps Willie Nelson on the road. (h/t: KVNU For The People) http://is.gd/4ju8T #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) TV still needs to adapt to the age of web video and DVDs. http://is.gd/4k6N9 #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) The fight between AT&T and Google is opening an ugly can of regulatory worms. http://is.gd/4k7ah #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) This is a prime example of why rural broadband and telemedicine are a need, not a want. http://is.gd/4kg73 #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Smartphones use as much capacity as 8 laptops. http://is.gd/4kg41 #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Wireless CEOs have massive coronary as Walmart enters the cell biz. http://is.gd/4kRAp #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Unions on FairPoint: "told you so." http://is.gd/4llRE #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) FCC to likely push open access networks. http://is.gd/4llQd #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Google Voice brings unlimited calling to cell phones. http://is.gd/4lwdY #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Tier 1 providers no longer move the most traffic. http://is.gd/4mPjQ #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) The US now has a mobile DTV standard. http://is.gd/4mZHm #freeutopia #
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Broadband Bytes for 2009-10-10
- (@elforesto) Vonage app hits iPhones and Blackberries. http://is.gd/3YCcf #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Fairpoint's impending bankruptcy attracts attention from Windstream. http://is.gd/3ZlVj #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) First broadband grants out in CA, IN, NC, VT. http://is.gd/3ZlWE #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Fiber pioneers get Nobel prize. http://is.gd/40xbt #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) WinMo app store opens with 246 apps for purchase. http://is.gd/40EHY #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Frontier in hot water over ETFs. http://is.gd/41a2w #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Telcos beat cable at their core business (which is fair considering cable owns at phone service). http://is.gd/42PiS #freeu … #
- (@elforesto) FCC happy that AT&T did an about-face on VoIP, allowed a Skype app. http://is.gd/42R32 #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) WiMax set to quadruple speeds with simple electronics swaps. http://is.gd/42UyZ #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) FCC shortens public comment period on cell towers. http://is.gd/43PE2 #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Some libertarian thoughts on net neutrality that aren't completely dismissive, a rarity. http://is.gd/4551V #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) AT&T paying Congress to investigate Google and ignore their own wrongdoing. http://is.gd/45Fv4 #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) You can't afford to not have an Internet connection anymore. http://is.gd/45GHo #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Mobile phone growth is strong… in Africa. http://is.gd/45GAy #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) FCC investigating interconnection rates. http://is.gd/47bzQ #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Comcast looking for botnets on its network so they can be shut down. http://is.gd/47bKs #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Is metering fated to die out? http://is.gd/47WM6 #freeutopia #
- (@elforesto) Online game distributors like Steam create jobs and businesses. http://is.gd/4c74I #freeutopia #
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If You Work at Lucent, You're Not Reading This
I’m sure that some of you have noticed that the website has been less than reliable these last few weeks and I’m sure you’re curious as to why. Well, the short answer is that some jerk has been flooding the server with requests effectively launching a denial of service attack. A restart of Apache and MySQL fixes the problem, but I sometimes have to go to the console for my web host and do a hard reboot, the equivalent of pulling the power plug. Not cool.
Since most of the attacks originated from proxy.lucent.com, I have banned any connection attempt from this DNS name to the server. If that happens to be you, stop flooding my server with requests, dipstick.
Final Call: UTOPIA Breaking Ground in Brigham
Residents of Brigham City, the wait is apparently over. UTOPIA is holding a groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday October 10th from 11AM to 2PM to close up registration for service and finalize construction timelines. The ceremony will be held in Pioneer Park at Forest St. and 600 W. If you’re interested in getting service via UTOPIA, this could be your final chance before the SAA closes and you have to pay the install cost upfront.
Qwest's Sneaky Stimulus Play
From reviewing the list of stimulus applicants, you’d think Qwest decided not to partake in the feeding frenzy. Think again. Instead of applying directly, Qwest chose to allow an intermediary to make the application, an intermediary that would then spend the money on Qwest infrastructure and services. I’m referring to the applications from the University of Utah.
You may think hey, what does the U plan to do with Qwest? The reality is that the application from the university was on behalf of UEN. UEN contracts with several companies to build and operate 10GbE and 1GbE links to educational facilities, but the lion’s share of the money goes to Qwest. Should the application get approval, it is nothing more than a hand-out to Qwest to build a network with taxpayer dollars and charge their normal exorbitant rates for service with no real strings attached.
I hope that whoever is reviewing NTIA applications at the state level sees right through this ruse.