Importance of Infrastructure
Richard Alley, Penn State Evan Pugh Professor in Earth and Mineral Sciences uses an interesting example when talking about the effects of driving on carbon dioxide output. He says that the average fill-up takes about 16 gallons which weighs about 100 pounds, and asks what the effect on driving would be if we had to carry that gas in one gallon cans from the gas station to our cars?
Put another way though he is really talking about the conveniences of infrastructure, in this case the distribution system built around petroleum refining. Like most of our infrastructure systems this one is easily available to everyone, and through this access and ease of use, our nation has benefited.
Why is it then that what is arguably becoming our most critical infrastructure for economic development and sustaining our innovation leadership, broadband communications infrastructure, is left to chance, or rather the chances of the marketplace?
The petroleum industry has been aided by governmental investment in highways. Federal, state and local investments in water systems, sewage systems, and air travel have benefited all. Shouldn't a similar approach be used for deploying and aiding subscription to broadband infrastructure?
Educause, a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology, has released a proposal for a national policy on broadband communications infrastructure. Calling for combined federal, state and private investments, it suggest that for $100 Billion, fiber infrastructure could be installed to all homes. The federal investment to do this will require $8 B for each of four years.
This is a considerable sum but the benefits are enormous. The investment is for a limited amount of time yet the benefits will accrue for decades.
The proposal entitled, "A Blueprint for Big Broadband", can be found at
http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/EPO0801.pdf .
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Jeff ... I find this to be an interesting proposal -- on so many levels. One that is becoming more apparent to me is the growing divide we have as it relates to educational opportunities. I am teaching outside the College of IST for the first time and am seeing new perspectives on very old issues. We talked all the time about the Digital Divide in IST, but in a way that made it feel very far away. Now that I am working with graduate students in the College of Education I am seeing these issues in a whole new light.
It is amazing that every time we start down the path of discussing the use of emerging/disruptive technologies for teaching and learning a decent segment of the class raises their hands and tells me to back up and consider the fact that not everyone can participate. I try to work around it, but for teachers the idea that only a handful of your students can truly participate in learning activities outside the school ... well, it is a deal breaker for them.
I wonder what we would do with the bandwidth? Could we pull our teachers and educators up to a level to where they would have the faculty development to truly take advantage of it? Clearly there are issues all of the place with this topic, but providing infrastructure to the home would empower a generation to participate in so many new ways.
This is an interesting proposal. It is much like the No child left offline program in the state of Kentucky. The governor announced this effort in 2005, would be interesting to see recent stats on this work. It is also joined by the ConnectKentucky effort funded by the state as well as business partners.
There is quite a bit of discussion about the middle class being wiped out because of technology. Would that be as likely if efforts such as this did receive funding. On the other hand, there are families who still struggle to heat their home and feed their children. Perhaps this shouldn't be a top priority. hmmm....