The Tennesseean has a pro wi-fi editorial:
Nashville has everything to gain and nothing to lose by studying what Metro might reap from providing broadband access countywide.
The estimated $300 million cost of the service shouldn’t deter the task force which will look at how a system might connect the most disadvantaged child to the Internet or better serve public safety, public works and education needs. The world of the Internet, broadband, digital, Wi-Fi and beyond encourages people to think creatively and to think big. So why not Nashville?
To which Bob Krumm responds:
Ummm. . . has anybody stopped to do the math on this proposal? With a 300 million dollar pricetag–a cost well over a thousand dollars a household–wouldn’t it make more sense for the city to just pay our Comcast bills?
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It may seem minor, but there is something to lose by studying the proposal: that being the money needed to fund the study.
Simple opportunity cost-if the money goes to study wi-fi, it can’t be used elsewhere, like fixing a couple extra potholes, or paying an extra guy to pick up trash in the park, or whatever.
Basic economics.
But… but… it’ll be FREE!!
/snark
You know, we’ve gotten numb to hearing about a billion or ten billion at the federal level, but at the city level 300 million is a huge number. I don’t think people appreciate that.