The Underachiever Life

I just did not think I would live to see this.

I'm stunned, pretty emotional and bluntly a bit teary.

Please excuse me while I break tubbynerd character for a sec and go all political on you.

The Rudd government for me has been one mega disappointment - where are our kids laptops? Half arsed broadband plans and general dithering about climate change.

Not to mention the whole "clean feed' debacle.

Then Stephen Conroy (Who used to be "not amused" at my antics in student politics) has pulled the veritable "rabbit out of a hat"

The new national broadband network will be run and funded by the Government (a public/private partnership)

Now before you go all "Free Market" on my butt. Hear me out.

Australia is a wonderful country  - but we are a SMALL country - we don't even crack the top 50 in terms of population. Trouble is - when it comes to land mass and separation  - we are HUGE.

This is not a good combination for any single private entity to roll out a network that we need to compete with the world

What do I mean compete with

Well - I'm talking South Korea , Japan, USA, China, everywhere!!

The world is going digital and our antiquated cottoned together network run by a private company (telstra) who has a legal responsibility to make profits has been sadly outdated for the longest time.

Bluntly - A new national network was never going to happen

Then the much vilified Stephen Conroy  - changed the game.

Now the government will fund the network and get it going - this is FREAKING smart!

I see one twitter poster said it would cost every man women and child 2000 bucks - What an incredible investment! How many businesses can flourish on a digital international stage. How many kids will have extraordinary education experiences, what incredible opportunities for medicine in the home. I could go on and on....

The speed to be able to work anywhere in the world  - In my line fo the work Im waiting for a video to upload is a minute of lost revenue.

Combine this speed with Australia's living environment and generally tolerant culture and you have a country that can truly compete on a world stage. THRIVE on a world stage

Make no mistake - this announcement is THE most significant announcement to this countries future in my life time.

You see the real problems in this world are not about money poor vs money rich

Nope - they are just symptoms of the real problem...

The lengthening gap of the Information Rich vs The Information poor

That's the real problem and today the Rudd government played it's part in ensuring that we have no excuse to be information poor.

I see a lot of people saying 100mb is not very fast or that it will date. They don't get the tech - what's crucial is those beautiful strands of glass that the government is about to lay down to every house.

The speed is not governed by those glass fibres - it's the boxes that are attached to them that ultimately govern speed - so as the requirement grows, the tech grows we can grow with it.

And because it's public owned with private investment - with ISPS truly being able to compete on an equal footing for the first time. They have every incentive to upgrade the network.

Unlike telstra deliberately holding back tech advances until the competition absolutely forces their hand

We also avoid the horrific situation the USA is in now with cable monopolies controlling access to your door - what was an advantage in 1999 at has become an extreme liability  for the USA in 2009

The economics and politics of this are genius. But i'll let other discuss that as I go back in to my very happy tubbynerd shell.

Let me repeat...

This is the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT from Government in MY LIFETIME.

It's is a brilliant day for Australia.

Rudd Government (and in particular Steve Conroy) brilliantly well done.

Ed

PS Steve, Don't screw it up!