Public-Private Access Venture the Answer for Oakland?

Ask anybody who has looked at, or is trying to stimulate, broadband access in places where access is spotty, or where higher speeds are wanted, and the revenue model or business model always becomes a top issue.

The reason is simple enough. If existing ISPs thought they could make money, they already would be providing service. So the key issue, for billions of people who have no access, is how to change the economics enough that a sustainable revenue model is possible.

In many cases, proponents believe public-private partnership is one way to prime the pump, even when other ISPs already operate.