The United States has been on a constant decline in the world when it comes to internet speeds and availability. Here in Ohio our governor wants to change that:
State officials have not determined how much to charge individual institutions to have full access to Ohio’s soon-to-be improved broadband network.
“We don’t have our cost breakdowns yet,” said John Conley, chief of educational technology for the state Board of Regents.
Most universities and research institutions in the state have access to Internet2, a high speed nationwide network designed for researchers that can move high volumes of data quickly. However, that access is limited because the state’s broadband network speed is limited to 10 gigabits per second.
Gov. John Kasich announced last week the state would invest more than $10 million to boost that speed to 100 gigabits per second. The underground fiber-optic network was designed so that it could be upgraded, Conley said.
It’s good to see improvements being made here, but I can’t help but see a serious bit of hypocrisy in this. In 2009, when President Obama announced he wanted some of the stimulus to go to improving the country’s broadband Republicans instantly went to the “big government” and “socialism” memes. Fast forward three years and now it’s a good idea. It just exemplifies the most serious problem we face in our political discourse today; the idea can be great unless the other guy comes up with it. It’s a problem that has prevented our recovery from the economic collapse and one that will continue to plague us until our leaders grow up and realize that neither side holds a patent on good ideas.