Once Again: Why are we investing millions for OLD technology?

 

     Alabama is spending millions to run physical cables to rural parts of the state to provide high speed internet service. 

     $37-Million to provide Internet service to 20-thousand people, plus some businesses, farms and public buildings, including schools.

     Now about 1.1 Million people live in rural parts of Alabama. Do the math. Providing rural Alabamians with Internet by burying more cable will cost almost $2-Bilion Dollars. Then there's the maintenance and upkeep costs for the system.

Meanwhile, back in the real world in the year 2020...

      Space X is launched 60 more satellites on Saturday for their STARLINK system to provide high-speed Internet service everywhere. Hmmmm. I continue to wonder why Alabama is not linking up with Space X to provide much cheaper, even faster service?

     One reason is that the $37-Million is not Alabama money. It's federal money. So as with almost everything in Alabama, we'll lean on the Federal Till to pay...even if there's a much less expensive solution on the horizon.