Re:We need a permanent solution for universal broadband access
by codexb on Friday April 05, 2024 @11:37AM
(#39943733)
I'm going to go out on a limb and assume you've massively underestimated the true cost of installing fiber (you include no labor, or maintenance, or any equipment costs besides just the fiber for the trunk line (last mile installation is often much more expensive)), and massively overestimated the amount people in small towns are willing to pay for internet. Factor in that construction and installation in remote areas can be significantly more expensive, and the high risk that small, remote towns are likely to disappear and die over the course of 30 years, and there aren't many reasons to invest in expensive long-term infrastructure there.
Aerial fiber cable costs ~ $8 per foot. Those towns already have electricity, so they have telephone polls. 100 miles * 5280 * 16 (doubling the material cost to account for termination, connectors, etc), is $8.5M. Assuming the fiber lasts 30 years, that’s $281K per year. Small towns in the US have 2500-4999 people. At the minimum size to qualify as a town, that’s $112 per person per year, or under $10/month for the trunk line. At $100/month per house that should be profitable.
Also, the trunk will serve people outside of town.
The ACP money should be used to fund build-outs like this and dictate that the resulting lines have common carrier status (any ISP can rent bandwidth on them at the same price and priority).