Fiber

The Coming Tech Revolution - and Why America Might Miss It

By: Susan Crawford

Narrated by: Coleen Marlo

The world of fiber-optic connections reaching neighborhoods, homes, and businesses will be as different from what came before as the world after the advent of electricity. The virtually unlimited amounts of data we'll be able to send and receive through fiber-optic connections will enable a degree of virtual presence that will radically transform healthcare, education, urban administration and services, agriculture, retail sales, and offices. Yet all of those transformations will pale in comparison to the innovations and new industries that we can't imagine today.

In a fascinating account combining policy expertise with compelling on-the-ground reporting, Susan Crawford reveals how the giant corporations that control cable and Internet access in the United States use their tremendous lobbying power to tilt the playing field against competition, holding back the infrastructure improvements necessary for the country to move forward. And she reveals how cities and towns are fighting monopoly power to bring the next technological revolution to their communities.

©2018 Susan Crawford (P)2019 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Convinced me on the cause but not the solution

This is a good length for the subject. It was a fast listen, and I came away on-board with the author's thesis that fiber connectivity is imperative for our country, but she seems to move too fast away from considering the major companies as part of the solution, something that is happening now (with Federal $$$). I hope that she does a post-pandemic edition, now that there have been so many advances.

Very important

The author does an excellent job of unraveling the intricacies of communications regulation and the desperate need of Government to intervene in the Fiber future. She also makes many practical recommendations based on success in other places.

America - it was a nice run

While politicians and lobbyists fight over what color ties they are wearing and those like president twat are tweeting meaningless tweets, America continues to fall behind South Korea, Singapore, japan and even Sweden Et al, mainly due to greed and politics and short sightedness. Like Rome built the aqueducts, last century America led the world with visionaries like Tesla, Edison, FDR, Ike (freeway system) and JFK, who’s vision of putting a man on the moon led to countless new technologies. Today’s “leaders” fiddle away like Nero while the country’s infrastructure is crumbling. This author should be testifying to congress. They need to stop looking backward and have a plan for the future. Excellent narration btw.

Crawford connects the dots .

Great breakdown of how the US lackadaisical approach to fiber adoption will hurt us in the long run. She points out in great detail what is holding us back( incumbents telco and cable companies), where they are bright spots and how greater fiber availability can help all sectors of the economy. This book should be required reading for every member of congress.

Great insight and comprehensive SWAT

Great insight and comprehensive perspective on the capabilities of end to end fiber optics with history and examples of how companies, institutions and communities have overcome obstacles to realize the benefits and limitless capabilities of this medium. We have work to do in the USA!