[NTLUG:Discuss] Broadband Killer

[Steve Egbert]

Couple of things crossed my mind a couple of months ago before I designed
this unnamed technology.

1.  I'm searching for an appropriate acroynm for this multipath aggregated
narrowband server (MANS?).

2.  Security is the least of my concern.  I only choosed Spanning Tree
Algorithm Protocol (STAP or STA/P) because of its ability to close off
bridging loops.  This can easily be upgraded to use VPN to ward off
leachers, however, I wanted mass adoption of this technology particularly
the adoption by younger computer-literate demographics (aka high-school kids
or college dorms).

3.  802.11 makes for a wonderful join-the-crowd without forking over $$$ for
a measly $20 connection.  Use of VPN-like would enforce paying users to such
sub-provider(s) of bandwidth.

4.  Broadband users would not benefit that much from this approach because
of "shared-bandwidth" for both DSL and cable users.  Ultimately, DSL users
will converge at the DSLAM thereby limited by DS3/OC3 bandwidth connection
(not to mention whatever traffic-shapper the ISP slaps on the end-users)
Cable-modem users are limited to each neighborhood shared-traffic, starting
with the Head-End router (like DSL's DSLAM).   Redundancy can be provided
with this technology but only to the point of insuring the failure of one's
own line/cable.

5.  The availability of such MANS would entice such dying ISP with incentive
to get clusters of users within each neighborhood and have better retentions
of such accounts (translates to steady revenues).

6.  89 to 91% of the USA household do not have access to broadband
connection (In-Cahner Group studies).  It is that market demographic that I
wish to fill in the void for incremental speed increase to that those of DSL
or possibly cable bandwidth (given enough neighborhood participants).


Steve