[aclug-L] Re: colocation options

[Chris Owen <owenc@xxxxxxxxxx>]

On Mon, 24 Feb 2003, Carl D Cravens wrote:

> > In a more progressive world, the public sector would provide bandwidth,
> > the same way they provide roads.
>
> Oh, that'd be good... you've obviously never driven on some particular
> Western stretches of US Interstate highway.  That wouldn't make for a
> reliable network.

I'd go further and state that not even in Eastern Kansas would it work
very well.  Ever see a description of what the IRS, National Weather
Service or FFA use for computers?  It is plain scary. The IRS scrapped
their last update after spending 10 years and millions and getting
nowhere.  FAA ATC same thing.

The NWS provides weather to the FFA by means of a _once an hour_ poll via
_dialup_.  They have 24/7 automated weather stations that get the weather
ever 30 seconds and then they only poll it once per hour.  The only way to
access the automated station in say Garden City (unless you are in radio
contact at less than say 40 miles) is to call it on the phone with an
automated voice reading it to you.  Polling dialup POTS line (probably two
actually), probably 3 POTS lines for the voice system.  They probably have
5 POTS lines dedicated to weather (business lines at $40 per line).  That
is $200 per month for "connectivity" and they only have data once an hour
coming out unless you call voice to get it.

And what is scary is they outsourced that system to a private company.
Just having the goverment in charge of approving it dumbed it down that
much.  Imagine if it had been done inhouse.

How someone can complain about a world where you can get shitty (but fast)
connectivity for $40 per month and good fast connectivity for $60 per
month is beyond me.  I ordered a plain POTS line last week for my home.
It was $38.90 per month with no special options.  Adding caller ID, call
waiting, call forwarding would push it over $50.  Contrast that with DSL
pricing and it is just a crazy world we live in.

Chris

--
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Chris Owen                ~ Garden City (620) 275-1900 ~  Lottery (noun):
President                 ~ Wichita     (316) 858-3000 ~    A stupidity tax
Hubris Communications Inc ~       www.hubris.net       ~
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