Source: National Journal
quote: Just how many jobs (other than running fiber) do you really see this generating? Most people have more than enough speed to web browse, and stream video at SD resolutions, and a high percentage can stream HD. Past that, it's closer to luxury than a requirement. So I don't see the synergy you suggest.
quote: As for Jobs, well, the USA is a very vast place, relatively competitive to Australia in terms of land-area, they budgeted fiber for 98% of the population at roughly 50 billion AUD.Who knows what the initial job count would be, however in perspective you would need to hire a ton of contractors to dig out the cabling channels to put the cables underground, specialized vehicles for the laying of fiber which means more construction of machinery and the factories that support those.
quote: In Australia, 83% of the population live within 50km of the coast, and 86% live within an urban area. Also, it won't reach 98% of the population. It was only designed to reach 92% (basically just cover the cities and a few suburbs which would account for the 92%). It is now only expected to cover 22% of the population (not even going to reach every city), and will still cost 30 billion.