The FCC's announcement last week of the Office of Native Affairs and Policy points to the increasing importance of ensuring that broadband networks are available to native homelands. In this video interview from the OPASTCO 2010 Summer Convention, Al Pedersen discusses fiber network that Sandwich Isles Communications created to serve the Hawaiian Home Lands. In this interview, he discusses some of the construction challenges Sandwich Isles Communcations faced, such as boring through lava, as well as unique permitting requirements and costs imposed by their distance from the mainland. Their creation of an undersea/land fiber optic network, which Pedersen describes as open access, stands to benefit all Hawaiians.
Fiber to the Island(s)
– August 18, 2010Posted in: ViodiTV, ViodiTV @ OPASTCO
Joan Engebretson of Connected Planet links to our video and provides a nuanced argument regarding USF. She points out that wireless networks often receive equivalent USF funding for networks that aren't nearly as capable when it comes to providing broadband.
http://blog.connectedplanetonline.com/unfiltered/2010/08/19/sandwich-isles-telco-funding-stokes-usf-debate/