Fiber Internet
MoCoSafeG.org recommends fiber to the premise. This was promised to Marylanders in a deal between Verizon and Maryland Public Service Commission but has not been delivered to all Marylanders. The Public Service Commission allowed telecommunications firms to add a fee onto our landline phone bills. Instead of building out a wired network, Maryland telecommunication firms diverted the money to wireless through accounting rules supported by FCC. A group of expert, activist telecommunications lawyers won a suit against the FCC to put a stop to the FCC misinterpretation of accounting rules. Now, action is needed against the Maryland Public Service Commission to convince them to adjust their rules.
The Digital Divide was no accident. It was the result of deliberate actions by some of the biggest corporations in the world. Now it's time for them to fulfill their promise and connect everyone to fiber optic cable.
What Irregulators Case Win Means toMaryland relates how the States are now able to go after the money that was deceptively manipulated out of broadband into wireless communications, plus get the broadband networks that were promised but never completed or deployed. The limited data that the Irregulators have on Maryland is included.
Irregulators Next Steps suggests various public players and organizations that may be able to assist with this effort.
Wired Internet Addresses the Digital Divide quotes legislative officials and noted authors agreeing that wireless hot spots are not a long-term solution to the digital divide. Instead, the installation of high-speed broadband networks across a state is what is needed.
A Case for Wired Internet documents the overall positive features of wired/fiber Internet versus wireless, plus points out that our current access to the internet is dominated by the “triopoly” of Verizon, AT&T, and Comcast who impose artificial scarcity, planned obsolescence, and high prices to maintain their immense profits. It is therefore more advantageous for community broadband networks to be financed, constructed and managed locally like other parts of our public infrastructure.
Wired Internet is Good for Business shows that a sturdy, wired communications infrastructure, using wireless only as an adjunctive technology, has vast potential to become the electronic essential to commerce, education, jobs, the economy, social cohesion, communications, and international competitiveness
Wired Internet vs Wireless for First Responders emphasizes a long-recognized need to use existing broadband assets/infrastructure for first responders, and that 5G and future versions of wireless networks are unlikely to provide universal, guaranteed connectivity any time soon.
Verizon Anti-Union Activities documents the continuing negative campaign carried out by Verizon, in particular, against unions.
Usage “The State Of The North American Fiber Industry” (FBA/RVA) reveals that fiber has been deployed to 77.9 million homes as of December 2023, growing 13% year-over-year.
Cost "Fiber Deployment Annual Cost Study” (FBA/Cartesian) finds that costs for aerial deployments range from $4 to $9 per foot and buried costs are ranging from $11.30 to $24.13 per foot. This report includes detailed fiber deployment cost elements.