It is unfortunate that a bridge collapse in Minnesota has to happen before there is a call for action to upgrade and replace aging infrastructure.  Infrastructure is important for the economic viability of every region in the United States.  For that matter, infrastructure is critical to any region’s economic viability around the world.  And when you build infrastructure there is definitely a long-term payoff, but you need to make some huge upfront investments.

At an Illinois Chamber of Commerce Infrastructure Conference in 2006, I remember one of the other speakers was talking about the need to take a look at the dams and other waterway infrastructure around the state.  Another pointed out the roads and bridges that had to be maintained.  These are all separate billion dollar initiatives, if not more.

COMING BACK TO COMMUNICATIONS

Some do not even look at the telecommunications network as part of the infrastructure.  Other countries are spending a lot of money on their network infrastructure to utilize the latest devices that are available.  They understand the payback of having a state-of-the-art network architecture that provides great access and speed.

We need to have that same eagerness to build the best.  I have heard a lot from executives from various incumbent telephone companies but I don’t see the swift action.  I hear promises and some good rhetoric, but I don’t see giant leaps in adding superior architecture.

Maybe the best quote is from a former telecommunications company Chairman, Harold Geneen of ITT:

Words are words;

Explanations are explanation; and

Promises are promises, but

Only Performance is Reality.

We need to take a giant step in infrastructure upgrades within all segments of the infrastructure:  Roads, Bridges, Docks, Dams, Airports, Communication Networks and all the supporting organizations.

CARLINI-ISM: Infrastructure is an investment, not an expense, for economic development.