←back to thread

Man who built ISP instead of paying Comcast $50K expands to hundreds of homes

(arstechnica.com)
1135 points carride | 4 comments | 10 Aug 22 13:23 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
Show context
qwe----3 ◴[10 Aug 22 13:35 UTC] No.32411651[source]▶
> over $30,000 for each of those homes to get served

This doesn't seem very efficient to me.

replies(13): >>32411670 #>>32411682 #>>32411693 #>>32411775 #>>32411831 #>>32411955 #>>32412075 #>>32412123 #>>32412258 #>>32413016 #>>32413760 #>>32414638 #>>32420670 #
fourthark ◴[10 Aug 22 13:46 UTC] No.32411831[source]▶
At $55/mo, he'll start making a profit in 45 years.
replies(1): >>32411957 #
TrueGeek ◴[10 Aug 22 13:53 UTC] No.32411957[source]▶
From the article: he had $2.6MM in help from the "American Rescue Plan's Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds".

He's being paid by the government to bring Internet access to homes in the state that aren't currently wired for it.

replies(2): >>32412037 #>>32412153 #
qwe----3 ◴[10 Aug 22 13:58 UTC] No.32412037[source]▶
That bill and these types of projects are basically why we have 10% inflation now.
replies(5): >>32412105 #>>32412142 #>>32412152 #>>32412155 #>>32412376 #
LetsGetTechnicl ◴[10 Aug 22 14:05 UTC] No.32412152[source]▶
Inflation isn't at 10% but it seems like investing in infrastructure is a good idea. If we needed to pinch pennies we could start at the bloated military budget
replies(1): >>32412343 #
_wolfie_ ◴[10 Aug 22 14:16 UTC] No.32412343[source]▶
Right, in the middle of war with Russia and with war with China on the horizon. Great idea.
replies(3): >>32412716 #>>32413063 #>>32414026 #
vaidhy ◴[10 Aug 22 15:50 UTC] No.32414026[source]▶
When is the time US has not been at war? Maybe, we are inverting cause and effect here.. US is always at war because the budget allows for it?
replies(1): >>32414941 #
1. 2Gkashmiri ◴[10 Aug 22 16:46 UTC] No.32414941[source]▶
Say it this way. Tomorrow if the american security /defence budget was cut to 0, do you think the rest of the world will storm/attack Americans because they have an eternal blood thirst for them? Don't they have their own problems to deal with?

This is the problem with mitary and security infra of any country. They keep the bogeyman alive because their paychecks depend on it.

replies(1): >>32416802 #
2. Thetawaves ◴[10 Aug 22 18:55 UTC] No.32416802[source]▶
This is literally exactly what would happen. It need not be blood thirst motivation; simple profit dynamics are enough to ensure this outcome.
replies(1): >>32421969 #
3. 2Gkashmiri ◴[11 Aug 22 05:39 UTC] No.32421969[source]▶
keep on dreaming
replies(1): >>32435653 #
4. Thetawaves ◴[12 Aug 22 07:50 UTC] No.32435653{3}[source]▶
Good thing you will never find out.