<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:#000000">What about cellular? </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:#000000"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:#000000">T-Mobile has a dongle that you plug into the wall and it delivers wifi to the home. It's only available in certain areas but I plan to try it as soon as it is available to my home.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:#000000"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:#000000">My bet is some of us are already using this?</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:#000000"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:#000000"> -- Owen</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, Dec 28, 2021 at 9:46 AM Robert Jacobson <<a href="mailto:robert.jacobson@atelier-tomorrow.com">robert.jacobson@atelier-tomorrow.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Dear 1st Mile Friends,<div><br></div><div><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> </span>I’m preparing an application for a state broadband grant and need your input to knowledgeably ask for funding for what purposes. Here’s why...<div><br></div><div><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> </span>Our household experience with SpaceX's StarLink broadband service has been great (250-300Mbps down, 25Mbps up), no weather interference, etc. The modem supplied with the two-foot self-aiming antenna is powerful enough that my neighbor’s visitors 20 yards away can camp on it. (We’re friends.) </div><div><br></div><div><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> </span>Every device in our home, now connected to the StarLink modem, is running at max speed. Total cost so far has been ~$495 for the gear, one hour for easy installation (my own labor), and ~$90 per month for access to the satellites. (We haven’t gotten our first monthly invoice.) </div><div><br></div><div><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> </span>We do pay extra for some online fare, but not to SpaceX. It goes directly to Apple, Showtime, Netflix, various Patreon podcasts, etc.</div><div><br></div><div><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> </span>Providers of “conventional" broadband modalities — cable and fiber —must string cable/fiber overhead and/or bury it in conduits and trenches; and must build local networks to distribute data to offices and households. Providers may require their homeowner, office, ranch, etc. customers to own additional gear. </div><div><br></div><div><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> </span>Also, they may have fees to pay for channels they resell to customers, links from fiber to cable, their own tower or satellite expenses, etc. They pass along most of these expenses to their local-government and household/office subscribers.</div><div><br></div><div><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> </span>Each modality must provide quality service to its customers and generate earnings for its owners. </div><div><br></div><div><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> </span>My questions to my 1st-Mile colleagues: </div><div><br></div><div><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> </span>1. In your experience, what are comparable numbers for satellite internet vs conventional cable and/or fiber to the home in a rural setting with about 450 households concentrated on one mile of highway (that is supposed one day to be wired with fiber per state dictates) and another 100 on the perimeter. </div><div><br></div><div><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> </span>If you were writing a grant for this purpose, on which modality would you rely? Special conditions? </div><div><br></div><div><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> </span>Thanks for your rapid reply. We have to file our application January 31st, latest!</div><div><br></div><div>Bob Jacobson</div><div>Atelier Tomorrow Inc.</div><div>A Nonprofit Consultancy</div><div>Patagonia, AZ 85624</div><div>(520) 370-1259</div><div>LinkedIn: </div><div><a href="https://linkedin.com/in/bobjacobson" target="_blank">https://linkedin.com/in/bobjacobson</a> </div></div></div>
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