Holy Crap My Hair Is On Fire

Your mail.

by TheRealEdwin on 12/03/10 at 12:32 am

Cartoon by Brian of www.shoeboxblog.com

Today I got an awesome email from Kim talking about the power of the internet and what it means to those who could access it.

So….I’m sitting at PF Chang’s, ordering steamed vegetables and tofu (because I know you want me to stay healthy), writing and answering email, ruining the ambiance at the bar with the glare of my screen, but unwilling to pay AT&T to get connected to the Internet, so knowing that nothing I’m working on will get sent until I connect later at the hotel.  And none of my Internet research will happen until then, either.  This is the price I’m willing to pay for steamed vegetables.

A woman walks by and asks, “Are you connected to the Internet?” And I say no, I have to pay, and I don’t feel like it.  And she says, “Are you picking up the Starbucks network next door?” And we look, and I am, and that’s who wants me to pay.  She says, “Why don’t you use my sign on?” I turn the keyboard to her, and she signs me in.  And walks away, with my complete and utter gratitude.

You’re receiving this email due to the generosity of a woman who understands the value of connectivity to the Internet.  AT THE RIGHT PRICE POINT.

-Kim

You’ve felt it. You know how it feels like to go without your addiction for a long while. Study after study shows that broadband deployment at a low price stimulates job growth almost instantly and for a very low price. Lack of competition, rising prices, less service and horrible customer support only exasperate this. I’ve been offline for a week and I still can’t get Comcast to be competent enough to do a simple install at my new place. My past two posts were written using the WordPress app on my Nexus One. Do you realize how hard it is to do anything internet related on any phone?

Much like the interstate system did for commerce back in the 1950′s, ’60′s, and ’70′s, I say we make broadband a national priority and turn it into an infrastructure service paid by taxes for everyone or heavily subsidize it. You can not expect the economy to recover without support for the next generation of commerce to laid down. Thankfully, the FCC seems to see it my way. I just hope they are able to execute.

If you think broadband is as an important resource to our future as I do, please check out the Miami-Dade Broadband Coalition, which Kim and I are members of, and consider where you and your job would be right now if it wasn’t for the availability of broadband.