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Comment Re:Everybody is wrong... (Score 1) 270

It is all peak-period problems, not average bandwidth. Invariably we get downgraded to barely viewable overcompressed SD on Sunday nights. A local smart cache of the next 5 episodes of the 5-6 different shows we watch most often would likely eliminate 90% of the network usage. If enough people have them it would make it a non-issue for the telco.

It is important for it to be a network-based cache though, so it is device independent.

Comment Re:Everybody is wrong... (Score 1, Interesting) 270

The issue comes down to contention ratios and peering. The last-mile ISPs don't want to peer with Netflix at a Hub level, they want to peer at a POP level, so they don't "waste" any of their backbone network between carrying Neflix traffic. Both parties are acting in their own self-interest.

Rationally, I have to think that when one service provider represents 10% or more of the traffic on a given network they should be doing something to address it, and the responsibility really falls on their shoulders and not the ISP.

Using Netflix as a simple example, all they would need to do to reduce their problem is offer a cache option on the end-user's network. It is less efficient than having it at the ISP's facilities, but it isn't all that complicated and the cost can be borne by the customer and improve sticky-ness. Right now, it is a pain in the ass to do things like a proxy to avoid the network saturation.

Comment Re:How about malfunctioning devices? (Score 1) 323

If your network can be crashed by a device not connected to it, but broadcasting packets with its MAC address spoofed for the purposes of compliance with 802.11 specifications then you have a real problem.

Once the device authenticates with and connects to your network, it broadcasts it's real MAC address.

The only thing I can see this messing up other than user tracking is using net stumbler to see who/what is in your area. Hopefully they don't use MAC addresses outside of their legitimate manufacturer IDs for this purpose.

Comment Re:Law & Money (Score 1) 140

Well put. GTE became Verizon Global Networks and was a very separate division. As it became integrated and FIOS was rolled out things became very difficult. They obviously chose a favorable way to request treatment, which should be expected. If they didn't have that support, they would have pulled FTTN and limited how much they were willing to spend going to the home. In the end, it would have set things back more.

But, the government should only allow a limited time monopoly for these services. Phase in competition over the infrastructure to encourage competition, higher levels of service, and lower costs.

The decision doesn't have to be binary.

Comment Re:Oxymoron (Score 1) 187

Because a classroom is unlikely to be utilized at capacity for its 50-year lifespan given fluctuating enrollment.

New subdivision built in year 1, year 4-5 the elementary school in the neighborhood has an enrollment boom, then a bust around year 10-14. The next boom isn't likely until the first families in the development move on and new young couples move in and have kids, which is likely around year 25. So, a trailer that is installed in anticipation of the boom can be demolished during the bust at the end of its life, and a new trailer can be provided for the next boom. Very efficient.

Unfortunately, the problem is that the trailers are never removed, and what was intended to be temporary becomes permanent.

Further exacerbating the problem is the fact that it is hard for schools to get money (because they often spend it poorly).

Comment Re:Correlation vs correlation (Score 3, Interesting) 433

The Allies won WWII because the US had substantial natural resources *and* industrial production capability that was not damaged in initial volleys. Guerrilla warfare is different, which is why using "shock and awe" or "invisible hand" get tricky.

Ultimately to defeat "terrorism," you need to create cultural ties to societies that "hate our freedom." (Gag!) Education is a strategy, as are religion, charity, entertainment, and simple brainwashing. Immigration seems to have some effect, but not much.

The goal should not be for everybody to be best buddies, but to at least tolerate each other with *mutual* respect. To that end, it seems like Americans are in much better need of education than whomever else.

Comment Cloud having rough week... (Score 1) 164

Maybe it is the heat, but it hasn't been a good week for clouds. Fire took out my cloud when an XO circuit killed my hosted DNS and subsequently my hosted website and "cloud" email. Different fire somehow took out one of our supplier's SIP trunks leaving them without phones.

Oh well... still have two 9's for the past 12 months...

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