The Nevada Broadband Task Force recommended (.pdf from Baller Herbst Law Group) a large number of projects but should be commended for ranking them all.
At the top of the list, the task force placed two public computer projects (about $4 million to $6 million each) which seem to me to be very worthwhile. Detailed information is available for one of them.
I was surprised to see the projects of Hughes and EchoStar recommended so highly. Unless they can reach parts of the state that nobody else can — this is possible — I see no reason for the deployment of satellite when better technologies are available.
I was also surprised to see a Connected Nation project highly recommended — second in sustainable adoption (education) projects behind the highly valuable Douglas County project.
Not on the list was KeyOn, a Las Vegas-based WISP with applications for stimulus projects across the nation.
Finally, I was surprised to see Ikanos Communications listed as “not enough information available to score.” Ikanos may be the largest owner of open internet infrastructure in the U.S.
Tags: connected nation, nevada, satellite