But as governments chose which projects to fund in the early months of the economic stimulus, they leaned toward those that were "shovel-ready," which equated to building and resurfacing bridges and roads in order to create jobs immediately.
Supporters of so-called "smart infrastructure" had hoped that decision-makers would take a longer-term view and build fiber-optic capability when laying down roadbeds. It hasn't worked out that way so far, but that doesn't mean it won't.
The recently proposed Broadband Conduit Deployment Act of 2009 introduced by Democratic U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Mark Warner of Virginia could be a game-changer, if passed. As first reported by Wired magazine, the two members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation are proposing that some highway projects funded by the stimulus be required to include conduits that are capable of carrying fiber optics. State and local governments wouldn't be required to install the fiber-optic wires themselves -- just the "tubes" that would carry them. The idea is that communications companies would then be able to go in and build and pay for the capacity themselves.
In particular, Warner has credibility on this subject, having made his personal fortune by founding and investing in cell phone companies before becoming Virginia's governor earlier this decade. He said the plan makes economic sense because crews won't have to tear up roads later on so that the equipment can be installed.
That's plain sense.
But from a wider lens, "baking in" the capacity now could be helpful for America's grandest technology plans:
It could be just the needed impetus to propel an interconnected vision for intelligent transportation systems (ITS) that spans nationwide. Yes, some states like Pennsylvania and California are dedicating stimulus dollars to large-scale ITS projects. But there's room to do much more.
These technologies are broadly defined to include traffic signal control systems, changeable roadside message signs, license plate recognition cameras and speed cameras, parking assistance systems and weather information, among many others. In order for them to work together seamlessly, they need a communications backbone that's either wired or wireless. By putting fiber optics under many U.S. highways, much of that communications skeleton would be ready to go.
Furthermore, putting fiber underneath highways could serve as an integral role in guiding where to put $7.2 billion in stimulus dollars dedicated to broadband infrastructure. There is some question where exactly that money should be spent because a comprehensive U.S. map of service providers and broadband coverage doesn't currently exist. If the country could use the highway system as the "arteries" of broadband coverage, then the country would be well on its way to better telecommunications infrastructure.
Those are roads worth following.
