Recently I was invited to attend a
presentation on “broadband.” I asked Christopher Liles what it was and he said,
“you want it.” So I went, and it turns out I have it. In my case, it is DSL
(Digital Subscriber Lines) from Siskiyou Telephone.
Broadband is high speed internet access and infrastructure needed to
rapidly transmit data to and from residences, businesses and government. Fibre optic cable
in the fastest and cable is faster than copper wire. DSL uses the existing copper wire
connections. There are also wireless and satellite technologies, but these can be affected
by geography and weather and are expensive.
The lower copper wire broadband technologies are good for basic
internet surfing, email, telephone, gaming, and music. Video on demand, television, video
streaming, and 5 second CD downloading requires moving into cable or fibre technology.
Fibre infrastructure is definitely required for cutting edge “virtual reality,”
3D holographics and telepresence.
The potential internet applications with broadband technologies are
almost as varied as the imagination. People regularly shop on line, participate in on-line
auctions, do on-line banking and get small business and other assistance. Some people work
from home using the computer. Others buy and sell in a global market. Increasingly, one
can get government records information online or apply for permits. Our local high schools
now have distance learning where instructors and students can be located hundreds of miles
apart. Many people now can attend school from home and get high school or college degrees.
On-line entertainment is available - if you have the speed to watch it without constant
buffering interruptions.
With high speed technology, you can now sit at a desk in front of a
big screen tv and talk to a psychiatrist. Business people and government can video
conference with others far away and save on travel expenses. Imagine being able to check in on the wellbeing of
seniors living at home alone; remote monitor a chronic medical condition – check on
medications and vitals ; or have access to a big city specialist from your local clinic.
The California Emerging Technology Fund (www.cetfund.org,) is trying to get broadband access
throughout California. They will be conducting surveys in Siskiyou County late this fall
and mapping access down to the parcel level. They want to know such things as how many
people have computers? How many have access to the internet and at what connection rate?
How many people would pay a bit more for higher speed access?
Beam me up, I’m ready!
|
