FC: More on US tries to solve cable TV "digital divide"

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

> Date: Wed, 09 Feb 2000 22:13:09 -0500
> To: declan () well com, politech () vorlon mit edu
> From: Philo <philo () radix net>
> Subject: Re: FC: US redefines 'digital divide' to include... no cable
>   TV!
>
> At 06:22 PM 2/9/2000 , Declan McCullagh wrote:
>
> >>Many Americans in remote rural areas who do not have broadcast or cable TV
> >>service now watch television on DirecTV and other satellite TV services.
> >>Rohde called that inadequate, citing "harsh weather" in North Dakota 
> and the
> >>need for farmers to get weather forecasts on local TV stations (from nearby
> >>Minot, in this case) as an objective of the new initiative.
>
> <sigh>
> Amendment the 28th.
> The right of the people to receive Party of Five and other fine WB 
> programming shall not be infringed.
>
> I've got Dish Network satellite TV, and never lost the signal through all 
> the winter storms we just had on the east coast. In addition, with no 
> wires to run, if there is a loss of service, then as soon as the condition 
> clears, service is returned with no repairs necessary.
>
> Finally, as for weather reports, what's wrong with radio?
>
> Philo


> Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2000 19:30:46 -0500
> To: declan () well com
> From: Alan Rosenblatt <alan () mediabureau com>
> Subject: Re: FC: US redefines 'digital divide' to include... no cable
>   TV!
>
> Declan,
> It seems that if the chief concern is that farmers in North Dakota can't
> get local weather forecasts, the appropriate use of the "digital divide"
> funds would be to digitally wire those areas so they can get the weather
> off of the Internet, whenever they need it, instead of having to stay up
> for the 11 o'clock news when they have to rise at dawn.
>
> If this means loan guarantees for cable companies to set up digital access,
> that's ok.  But analog cable services are clearly outside of the scope of
> the program.
> >
> Alan Rosenblatt
> Washington Bureau Chief
> The MediaBureau Network
> http://www.mediabureau.com
> alan () mediabureau com
>
> Assistant Professor of Government and Politics
> George Mason University
> alan () postmaster co uk




Date: Wed, 09 Feb 2000 16:16:50 -0800
> Subject: Re: FC: US redefines 'digital divide' to include... no cable TV!
> From: Eleanor Wynn <wynn () zephyr net>
> To: <declan () well com>
>
>
>
> Nice to know Adam Clayton Powell is still happening.
> >
> > But now, the "digital divide" also apparently includes farmers who cannot
> >> watch local weather on television.
>
> Gee, the radio probably has better weather service for farmers anyway. They
> can get a computer connection using their existing power and telephone
> lines, doesn't that seem cheaper than running cable?! Weather reports
> updated every 15 minutes, live satellite photos, plus commodity prices. I
> hate the idea that people's computer benefits will go to the stupid cable
> companies, just so people can pay every month for their new connection.
>
> Eleanor



> From: "William H. Geiger III" <whgiii () openpgp net>
> Date: Wed, 09 Feb 2000 18:17:55 -0600
> To: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>
> Cc: politech () vorlon mit edu
> Subject: Re: FC: US redefines 'digital divide' to include... no cable TV!
>
> In <4.3.0.33.0.20000209182210.00b19730 () mail well com>, on 02/09/00
>    at 06:22 PM, Declan McCullagh <declan () well com> said:
>
> >>"When we talk about bridging the digital divide, what do we mean?" asked
> >>President Clinton last week in announcing the $2.3 billion federal
> >>assistance program. "We mean that everybody ought to have access to a
> >>computer; everybody ought to have access to the Internet; everybody 
> ought to
> >>know how to use it and then we ought to make it possible for people to make
> >>the maximum use of it."
> >>
> >>But now, the "digital divide" also apparently includes farmers who cannot
> >>watch local weather on television.
> >>
>
> Great, we can spend a few more billion a year so Bubba & Tyrone can play
> computer games, DL p0rn off the internet, and now we can make sure Farmer
> Brown doesn't miss Opera & Jerry Springer.
>
> Does anyone really believe that these billions will actually go for more
> productive endeavors?
>
> --
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> William H. Geiger III                    http://www.openpgp.net
> Geiger Consulting
>
> Data Security & Cryptology Consulting
> Programming, Networking, Analysis
>
> PGP for OS/2:                   http://www.openpgp.net/pgp.html
> ---------------------------------------------------------------


From: Susie <[deleted]@.com.au>
> To: declan () well com
> Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2000 12:36:37 +1000
> Subject: Re: FC: US redefines 'digital divide' to include... no cable TV!
>
>
>
> and here I was thinking that Australia had the monopoly on stupid 
> pollies.what a
> classic


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