NetEquity Networks and Althea Networks have entered into a strategic partnership to finance, build and operate last-mile broadband networks. Our first project will be in rural Nebraska where we will leverage the fiber optic network owned by OPTK Networks (“OPTK”).

To finance this network, we will use Althea’s system to execute a revenue share smart contract between OPTK, cell tower operators, building owners, investors and network technicians (“Network Stakeholders”).

Althea’s system offers real-time payments and complete fund flow transparency to Network Stakeholders. This visibility makes a revenue share contract possible in a trust-minimized way. A revenue share contract for broadband…

I turned 38 last week. A well meaning post by an uncle of mine reminded me of the worst years of my life. I am the youngest of three brothers and was reminded every day by people close to me that I was not a manly man. The popular narrative was and is that my brothers were “rough and tough” but I was a “mama’s boy” and a “pretty boy” who cried a lot. I did. Almost every week, averaging 20–30 minutes per cry session. For 9 years straight.

As the years went by I was told to just suck…

NetEquity’s mission is to make high speed Internet access affordable for every human within a decade. We believe the best way to accomplish our mission is by building an open access fiber network in every country.

A fiber optic cable has virtually unlimited capacity which implies that it has negligible marginal cost of serving additional users. When a fiber network is financed under a fixed or formula driven investment return structure, its incentive structure becomes aligned with the ideals of open access. Specifically, the price paid to access such a network declines as usage grows. …

Board members have a duty to keep themselves informed about matters put before them for decision. This duty cannot be complied with unless board members have relevant material upon which to base their decisions. Management provides the Board with information they consider relevant though a dossier (commonly called “board pack”) ~7 days before a board meeting.

The board pack is a key source of information for board members, but also a source of concern for all stakeholders, especially management teams. According to 2017 research by UK governance consultancy Board Intelligence:

• 50+% of the respondents said their pack was 200-plus pages…

1. Internet access: coverage ≠ connectivity

The breakup of an incumbent telecom carrier driven by market forces and not anti trust regulations

1. What is meant by “market forces”?

• There is money to be made in buying stocks of telecom carriers (like Telecom Italia) at prevailing stock prices, selling their assets and distributing the resulting cash proceeds to stock holders. To understand this phenomenon, notice the difference between Enterprise Value (value of stock + debt) and Total Assets (net book value as reported on the balance sheet) of a telecom carrier.

How fiber improves learning outcomes

• Imagine controlling a microscope 1,800 miles away and getting the images on an 8K large screen television
• Imagine letting young students control that microscope with a mouse and having real-time access to leading scientists irrespective of geography

How fiber lowers cost of healthcare

• Imagine giving cancer researchers around the world access to real-time, high resolution data on a tumor or blood sample

How fiber improve grid monitoring

• Imagine “eyes on” everywhere on the electrical grid and being able to pin point faults with high accuracy

How fiber makes cities safer

• Imagine a gun-shot going off in your city and nearby cameras automatically configuring a high resolution live feed to law enforcement officials

How fiber makes cities smarter

• …

I moved towns every 2–3 years while growing up because dad was an army man. This meant re-establishing my self in a kiddie social network (usually a cricket team) every 2–3 years. In cricket terms, going from being the “12th man” who only did fielding to being assured a “batting spot” involved navigating a pre-existing social network and dealing with lots rejection as well.

Over the years this nomadic life taught me a few lessons that helped me get into college, find a job, build a company and switch careers. This post is about those lessons. …