3 ms·

All of this requires initial investment. Probably new loans that will have to be repaid. In the end Google will just get to use the infrastructure free and clea

All of this requires initial investment. Probably new loans that will have to be repaid. In the end Google will just get to use the infrastructure free and clean. It is the Uber of internet access.

908B64B197 6y ago
> Probably new loans that will have to be repaid Cities can borrow at rock-bottom prices. Not only that, but municipal broadband will lead to higher property values, so it indirectly profits the city.
- judge2020 6y ago
  Even still, people buy houses without looking at internet options then are surprised post-close when all they can get is 25mbps satellite internet. Property values aren't materially affected by internet access.
  - toomuchtodo 6y ago
    Not true. Citations are results of the first page of the below search. https://www.google.com/search?q=property+values+internet+access https://www.google.com/search?q=property+values+internet+acc...
    - judge2020 6y ago
      You're right, but that first result (in the google info card) is marketing material that links to another article about a study. The second article actually has scholarly sources for claims it makes: https://realtorparty.realtor/community-outreach/rural-outreach-initiative/news-resources/impact-of-broadband https://realtorparty.realtor/community-outreach/rural-outrea... Basically, it generally amounts to a very low change in property value, although studies are conflicting on whether having fast internet matters much, compared to having average internet: > disconnecting an average property from a high-speed first-generation broadband connection (offering Internet speed up to 8 Mbit/s) would depreciate its value by 2.8%. In contrast, upgrading such a property to a faster connection (offering speeds up to 24 Mbit/s) would increase its value by no more than 1%. > Our estimates suggest that there are declining returns to speed availability, with access to at least some type of Internet being more valuable than having only a very high-speed connection accessible. > Results show that single-family homes with access to a 25 Mbps broadband connection have a price that is about $5,977, or 3%, more than similar homes in neighborhoods with 1 Mbps. The rural premium is lower at $5,099
  - 908B64B197 6y ago
    The thing is: they don't have to increase that much for the investment to pay off.
  - spamizbad 6y ago
    I’m not sure how much longer that’s true. A family friend is a realtor and she commented about how now she’ll get asked questions like “I looked up the address and I can’t get Comcast, what are my internet choices?” — probably because of WFH. I had to give her the lowdown on area ISPs and where to look.
woah 6y ago
It's a tiny, lightweight plastic cable. How can the municipal government handle transporting hundreds of gallons of water to and from your house every day using massive physical infrastructure, but a tiny lightweight cable suddenly needs huge loans?

All of this requires initial investment. Probably new loans that will have to be repaid. In the end Google will just get to use the infrastructure free and clean. It is the Uber of internet access.

908B64B197 6y ago

> Probably new loans that will have to be repaid Cities can borrow at rock-bottom prices. Not only that, but municipal broadband will lead to higher property values, so it indirectly profits the city.

judge2020 6y ago
Even still, people buy houses without looking at internet options then are surprised post-close when all they can get is 25mbps satellite internet. Property values aren't materially affected by internet access.
- toomuchtodo 6y ago
  Not true. Citations are results of the first page of the below search. https://www.google.com/search?q=property+values+internet+access https://www.google.com/search?q=property+values+internet+acc...
  - judge2020 6y ago
    You're right, but that first result (in the google info card) is marketing material that links to another article about a study. The second article actually has scholarly sources for claims it makes: https://realtorparty.realtor/community-outreach/rural-outreach-initiative/news-resources/impact-of-broadband https://realtorparty.realtor/community-outreach/rural-outrea... Basically, it generally amounts to a very low change in property value, although studies are conflicting on whether having fast internet matters much, compared to having average internet: > disconnecting an average property from a high-speed first-generation broadband connection (offering Internet speed up to 8 Mbit/s) would depreciate its value by 2.8%. In contrast, upgrading such a property to a faster connection (offering speeds up to 24 Mbit/s) would increase its value by no more than 1%. > Our estimates suggest that there are declining returns to speed availability, with access to at least some type of Internet being more valuable than having only a very high-speed connection accessible. > Results show that single-family homes with access to a 25 Mbps broadband connection have a price that is about $5,977, or 3%, more than similar homes in neighborhoods with 1 Mbps. The rural premium is lower at $5,099
- 908B64B197 6y ago
  The thing is: they don't have to increase that much for the investment to pay off.
- spamizbad 6y ago
  I’m not sure how much longer that’s true. A family friend is a realtor and she commented about how now she’ll get asked questions like “I looked up the address and I can’t get Comcast, what are my internet choices?” — probably because of WFH. I had to give her the lowdown on area ISPs and where to look.

woah 6y ago

It's a tiny, lightweight plastic cable. How can the municipal government handle transporting hundreds of gallons of water to and from your house every day using massive physical infrastructure, but a tiny lightweight cable suddenly needs huge loans?