New Zealand: Rural Broadband Scheme ‘Destructive’
February 17th, 2011Via: New Zealand Herald:
John Key says he wants to “streamline and improve” bureaucracy.
Bill English says the country can’t afford waffly policy.
Great. They can do away with the Ministry of Economic Development. That should save billions and get rid of policy that is not only waffly but downright destructive.
The decision to start commercial negotiations with Telecom and Vodafone about handing over $285 million to improve rural broadband services is a case in point.
Either the ministry supplied bad advice to Communications and Information Technology Minister Steven Joyce, or it is shielding a decision he made for his own political or philosophical reasons.
Because be in no doubt, this is a bad decision that will not only saddle rural areas with sub-standard service, it will entrench existing monopolies and blight international standing as a place to invest or do business.
the two key words above are “Steven” and “Joyce”. The National govt in the 90s had Maurice Williamson as telecoms minister who would cost NZers billions over the following decades. in the transport and telecoms portfolios this time, Joyce is making his predecessor look like a hero. his decissions on roads and rural broadband defy any kind of economic sense. as i said before, i think this time Joyce has gone way too far and he is taking on a huge swathe of traditional National supporters. Labour is hardly any better, but the election in November has to rip the parliamentary majority away from this bunch of scam artists.