So now we have the Broadband Committee and by the way, correct the misspelling in the schedule of meetings. Great proofreading that, Ms. Vestal et al. But exactly what does that term mean with reference to the average person's daily life and usage of machines, devices, viewing possibilities and payments. This is an issue that needs to be decided upon further information, cold hard sense, individual needs and the needs of the Village. There is no room and no need here for force and intimidation, for emotional language and abuse or anything else. Just thinking!
The technical definitions and statistics are truly not important here for that is not what people want to know. They want to know - what's in it for me? How does it affect me? What will it cost me? What will I get for my bucks? The techie stuff - is there to "impress" people, but that is way too stale a path and no one truly cares, just the same way that no one needed the details as to how the phone worked or the fax machine, etc.
Supposedly one will be able to toss aside the traditional TV subscriptions and still maintain what they really watch, tailor it to a degree. Well, not so simple and not so cheap. Let's take a look at some of the choices. And remember - this is a swiftly changing world so it behooves us to step very carefully into this world, toe by toe, inch by inch, reading, thinking, investigating, checking finances and rethink before we even think of taking action.
SONY has the latest hat in the ring. For $50 a month (I have rounded all .99 to the next dollar). one can access the standard broadcast channels and cable channels - not premium ones). BUT you need to own PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 consoles. Right now it is restricted to three cities but there is a plan to expand but also remember - no Disney owned channels such as ABC. And as far as further personalizing - well, there goes the bill, going up anyone?
There is DISH for about $20 a month with 20 channels or so available and extra channels cost $5 a pop, no broadcast channels and only one device at a time.
How about Apple TV? Range - $20 - $40 a month and they are in talks with some channels, but COMCAST and NBC are NOT involved.
Well, what about HBO Now? That is $15 a month IF you have the Apple TV device. One gets all HBO programming - such as Game of Thrones but where is the rest of what one likes?
CBS All Access is $6 a month with live TV available in about 14 cities right now and all over the USA for on demand past episodes of various series. And then, of course, we have Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and Hulu plus, Acorn, etc. Each of these cost money folks. I know personally, as I have top Comcast options with their X1 platform and I have added some other options which have original programs or options from other countries. I can use all my computers and all the TVs at the same time. Device usage is not limited via power or interference. That is MY choice and I value that choice - to keep, add, subtract, etc.
The thing to remember is that NO ONE knows how broadband will end up? Who will govern it? How will it be classified? What are the fees that will be engendered and there will be. Nothing is free in this world and if it starts that way, it never stays that way as it develops new options. And how will new advances be factored in to older systems? Will there be tiers of service and access? Some say yes and some say no, but again, rules and votes change.
The point is, one can get what one wants for the money one wishes to pay. There is no one choice serves and satisfies all and no free choice. No one loves you so much out there that they will donate the services for nothing. It is a business and ANYTHING we do, ANY STEP we take, need be measured carefully and with much input from ALL, from several companies, from experts that come from BOTH sides of the issue and then it should be OUR choice, not the choice of a dictator and henchmen. Do Not Cede Your Rights!
PS: One can get all this streaming done in one's own unit without, that is WITHOUT wiring up the Village so why is there a broadband committee?
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