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Q&A
Debate on whether public infrastructure creates long-term affordability
1:48:04
·
56 sec
Council Member Gutiérrez and Brett Sikoff discuss the premise that public infrastructure creates long-term affordability in broadband access. Sikoff explains the current administration's perspective on this issue.
- Gutiérrez asks if OTI agrees with the premise that public infrastructure creates long-term affordability
- Sikoff frames this as the core debate surrounding the Internet Master Plan
- He explains that the current administration decided to focus on connecting people using existing infrastructure rather than investing in new public infrastructure
- The discussion highlights the different approaches between the previous and current administrations regarding broadband strategy
Jennifer Gutiérrez
1:48:04
Okay.
1:48:07
Okay.
1:48:08
And do you agree with the premise that public infrastructure creates long term affordability?
Brett Sikoff
1:48:17
That I mean, that's really the debate.
1:48:18
Right?
1:48:19
That's that's what the core of the Internet Master Plan was intended to do, was build out public infrastructure owned by the city with the intention of getting people connected, giving them choice, and hopefully driving down costs.
1:48:32
We did not see.
1:48:33
That was the old administration's plan and policy.
1:48:36
This administration came in with a concerted effort to make sure that people got connected without the eventuality or possibility that it would materialize into any actual connectivity for folks or that it would drive down prices.
1:48:51
So based on that assessment that we made, it was determined that the best way to go forward was connecting people with the infrastructure that's already available.