US/ND-1: Re: If libraries sold books would there be any book stores?
Re: If libraries sold books would there be any book stores?
Link Shadley (lshadley@seasurf.com)
Thu, 29 Aug 1996 10:45:14 -0700
Robert Mammel wrote:
>
> If libraries sold books, would there be any book stores?
>
> If libraries sell Internet dial in access (become an ISP) will there be any
> commercial Internet Service Providers?
> Once a subsidized service is in place in a marginal profit area, such as in
> rural communities, is it likely that any non-subsidized provider will ever
> brave that market?
Just the opposite happened here in northwest Oregon. After forming a
local community partnership to create access, a state supported network
was the only ISP willing to talk with us. We joined with them and payed
their hardware and line costs to bring 3 POPs to cover the county with
toll free access. That was two years ago. We now have 8 ISPs with
local presence, the original subsidized ISP and 7 private providers that
seem to be doing quite well. The trick, I think, was public awareness,
training and promotion of the Internet to create a rapidly growing user
base that encouraged other private ISPs to come in. If the subsidized
POP hadn't been willing to participate, we might still be without
service.
--
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* In Balance, Link Shadley *
* LANCE - Ecotrust - Clatsop Community College *
* (503) 325-9657 lshadley@orednet.org *
* lshadley@seasurf.com *
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