WHEN YOU SAY "ALTRUISM" TO ME, BUDDY, YOU BETTER SMILE: Chas Rich at NEO babble gets into some heavy snark about the Cronin/Stuber op-ed I linked in my last post. Chas thinks Kevin and Angela are insufficiently "altruistic" (i.e. just trying to get money for their programs) and that there's no reason to expect SBC to provide broadband service in less dense, poorer parts of their market. He apparently likes the idea of getting SBC to butt out of municipal broadband investments, though.

Well, I helped draft the proposals he doesn't like as well as the one he does, and I make no claim of "altruism" in the matter. I damn well do want more support for Digital Vision's member computer centers as well as community networking efforts like Tremont WiFi. I think SBC should help provide it if they want to keep their privileged position in Ohio's telecom market while merging with one of their major competitors.

And yes, I think broadband Internet access is now a necessity for many households and a basic telecom service for all. If SBC wants to be a privileged "incumbent provider" and buy out competitors at the same time, they should at least be required to get that basic service rolled out to all their customers in affordable configurations... which, at this point, they haven't.

So Chas, you want to step outside and settle this? I propose a debate on the subject. In fact, I propose making it a Meet The Bloggers event (sorry, George and Tim, but if we can't get Jackson and Campbell in the same ring why not me and Chas?)

Come on, Chas, you and me. I'll buy the first two rounds of coffee.