yafflings

“Wise or waste?”: NYTimes slaps broadband internet access on the front page

I’m a diehard NYTimes reader, and generally get it delivered daily. But I was shocked to discover Internet Money in Fiscal Plan: Wise or Waste?, one of the leading articles on NYTimes.com this morning, and, as it turns out, printed on A1 of the paper today. The article says the clause for implementing widespread broadband adoption in President Obama’s stimulus package could be a “$9 billion cyberbridge to nowhere.” The inclusion of increased broadband adoption is neither surprising nor novel; in fact Obama himself promised it in one of his Weekly Addresses to the nation:

It is unacceptable that the U.S. ranks 15th in the world in broadband adoption. Here in the country that invented the internet, every child should have the chance to get online, and they’ll get that chance when I’m President.

I simply don’t understand the root of the Times’ cyncism- the plan will take long to implement? (I’d be surprised if any part of the package didn’t take years); the money could be better spent? (Is helping all homeowner refinance at 4.5% or lower fulfilling the President’s push for innovative solutions? I think not.); or is this simply another example of an old generation failing to recognize the revolutionary possibilities of the internet. Much of the internet’s success was unanticipated, much of its ability to educate the population was unexpected, but we’ve come to a point where the power of connection is no longer avoidable. Computers are shifting more emphasis to the browser, One Laptop Per Child is working to put computers in the hands of children the world over, and the general focus is the internet. At a time when NASA is teaming with Google to solve humanity’s challenges, via Singularity University, the NYTimes is citing Brett Glass, founder of an broadband provider in Wyoming, stating “The Devil is in the details,” and arguing that the money could be better spent. Of course nationwide broadband access has the potential to hurt local providers, but the article fails to state this may be Mr. Glass’ motive. Furthermore, although it criticizes the bill for providing the minimum speed requirements of Cadillac when an economy car will do, it also states the technology will be obsolete by the time of its implementation. With a large percentage of internet users using far obsolete browsers and some Windows users still on Windows 97, I’d say that old or new, the technology will be useful. Finishing somewhat hopefully, “‘We can’t sit around waiting for the perfect technology when we have the good before us,’ [says Mike McIntyre],” this article is an insult to the possibilities of improved access, and to the promises of a President who promised us anything but the same, and is making good on fulfilling it in a way that (at the very least) will excite and empower the youngest generation of workers and scholars.