USDA Grants Open Range Communications $257 Million Loan to Bring Broadband to Rural Communities
Here’s a news item that appears a bit fishy, though great news for rural America. It should be filed under “your tax dollars at questionable work.” I’ve just learned that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has agreed to loan a startup company called Open Range Communications $257 million dollars to bring broadband to 518 rural communities.
I grew up in rural America, but moved to Houston, our fourth largest city, 24 years ago. When I visit my parents in rural Louisiana I am reminded just how slow dialup Internet connections really is these days because websites are being designed for broadband access, not dialup access. Just loading up a page on Godaddy with an average connection speed at their house of 42 to 50 K mbs takes minutes, not seconds. I gave up surfing the web from my parents home 3 years ago. So, I can really appreciate our government taking an interest in bringing broadband to rural communities. Notice, I didn’t say I agree with it or think it will be a moneymaker, I just said I can appreciate it.
So why I’m I knocking or questioning the USDA’s action. Take a look at Open Range’s website and you’ll know first hand. Just visit http://www.openrangecomm.com/ for a second and you’ll see it’s nothing more than a one-page place holder with an email address on it. The email address is for a PR guy with a small company called Percepture.com. Is this a wise investment of our tax dollars? Gee, I wish I could come up with and idea and a placeholder domain and get $257 million dedicated to my next cause.
Check it out and tell me what you think.
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