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Note: Looks like Comcast is vying for 'most favored telco status' (they are #4 now). Telcos also keep their deployment data secret too - but this is for an edge in the market. The days of Ma Bell's switching stations being a state secret during the cold war are long over - and we're not buying that nonsense from any corporation now.

from: Broadband Reports

If Comcast Shares Broadband Deployment Data, the Terrorists Win

March 6, 2008

Efforts to successfully map broadband deployment in this country have been fought tooth and nail by the largest providers. Carriers don’t want deployment shortcomings and lack of competition highlighted, because someone might actually do something about it. And solving one or both problems would likely cost ISPs money. Usually, the ISPs argue that they can’t disclose deployment data because it poses a competitive threat; as if these giant providers don’t already know precisely where a competitor offers service before investing billions in a new technology deployment (FTTH, FTTN, Terabyte Pigeons).

There’s a number of laws being drafted both on the State and Federal level that would work on mapping and shoring up rural broadband deployment. Many of these laws would require carriers to pony up this data so that the country could finally know precisely who offers service, where, and at what speed. Comcast, in opposition to a Maryland State bill, this week insisted that they can’t provide deployment data because terrorists could attack:

“9/11 wasn’t that long ago. We don’t want to make it easier for them to take out the network.” He added that the legislation requiring fuller disclosure could point to where vital public safety resources were, particularly in the wireless network.

Good thing we have ham radio operators. Were the terrorists to attack, it’s obvious their top target wouldn’t be the Comcast cable network, but Comcast’s recently acquired Fandango website. Terrorists also really hate on-demand high-definition content. The images are just too damn crisp!