I've been going around the South a lot lately for work and pleasure (my family is from this area of North Carolina, by the way).

What's killing me, and what I'm discovering is that supposedly "backwards" places like North Carolina and New Orleans actually have it way more together in some ways than "progressive" Oregon and Portland. For example, Lousiana is looking at a 200 million dollar seed fund for entrepreneurs in the state. New Orleans is providing some incredible job, education and housing incentives to gain and keep residents and their current unemployment is only 4%. North Carolina has an incredibly solid and strong tax base and has been investing in all kinds of infrastructure and higher education, including research, high-tech and medical the past 2 decades.

Oregon and Portland seem to be resting on their laurels and at this point look like they could be falling backwards. This state especially needs to get its financials in order. Ditto for the City.

I do not know what went wrong but Ashland, Oregon did have a public sector owned fiber system with cable and Internet. I understand that it went under. I found out about it when I was working with a Tribe that wanted to do something similar. When I called Charter (the private competitor controlled by Paul Allen at the time, but now bankrupt) I was told by a VP that his company "would bury us."

For God's sake dont you dare suggest that Creepy go fornicate with goat, he might just do it. Come to think of it Lord paulson does have horns.

Yeah, the City of Portland really got it right on their last foray into the telecom world. Anyone wanna buy a slightly used MetroFi antenna? Or better yet, just grab a ladder and help yourself. You can get $1.99 for it on eBay.

Reliable sources tell me that everything was in place and would have worked perfectly for wi-fi, cable, etc. but the telecom giants got to city hall and there were um, incentives for it not to work....

Wouldn't it be nice if our local leaders were required to post transcripts of EVERY conversation they have relating to their jobs. No matter where it takes place, if "city" business is mentioned, it gets recorded and put on display for all to see.

The moans would be interesting to listen to.

I’m 30 years old, single, female, work long hours, and live alone with my cat. Therefore, I’m really worried about my best friend who is currently engaged to some guy she just met. I just don’t think he treats her well at all. I don’t think she’s happy. She couldn’t be happy. Me and some of the girls (all single as well) just think he’s wrong for her. We’re all really worried!

"I’m 30 years old, single, female, work long hours, and live alone with my cat. Therefore, I’m really worried about my best friend who is currently engaged to some guy she just met. I just don’t think he treats her well at all. I don’t think she’s happy. She couldn’t be happy. Me and some of the girls (all single as well) just think he’s wrong for her. We’re all really worried!"

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The moans would be interesting to listen to.

Hadn't thought of that. Maybe a new source of city funds?

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>>http://portland.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/personals.cgi?category=rnr

Sorry for being doubly off topic I guess.

Given the City's pathetic performance with WiFi and even the Water Department's computer fiascos, I shudder to think what these people might do with a cable franchise.

The part that you're all missing, is that we already got screwed by the telecoms.

Remember the Telecommunications Act of 1996? Remember that Federal Excise Tax that has been on your phone bill ever since?

That amounts to over $200 billion dollars worth of taxes that went to the telcos to install 45Mbps connections to millions of homes.

Got your connection yet? I haven't either.

More info:
http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2007/pulpit_20070810_002683.html

Wait a minute there, Jack! Weren't you completely against the city owning PGE? Why the swticheroo? Personally, I am all for publicly owned utilities since they are a monopoly that doesn't seem to be regulated very fairly for the consumer, despite plenty of lip service to the contrary.

jf

I have stated many times on this blog that a properly managed PUD would be good for Portland.

The term "proper management" does not include the City of Portland.

Touche, mon frehr!

Portland is trying. Lots of info here:

http://www.portlandonline.com/cable/index.cfm?c=45468

Last I heard, estimates were from $300 - $500 million. Regardless of whether the project could be managed well by the City (highly doubtful), I'm not sure that kind of taxpayer investment makes sense for what is essentially a private benefit.

Mayor D**chey is talking about spending more than $500 million on a couple of stadiums, a convention center hotel, and a new light rail/pedestrian bridge NONE OF WHICH would serve as many people as a fiber to the home PUD.