The alternative is something like the dotcom bubble, where a lot of fiber was layed, and while ultimately a lot of investment money was thrown in the incinerator the physical stuff became cheaply available. Or, if we're lucky, it's more like tulips, something that no one really needs and when the mania wears off most people can go back to ignoring.
The fiber sat in the ground unlit for a couple decades but was eventually useful. Datacenters that aren't used will leave a bunch chips that will be worthless in 5 years.
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u/LordJim11 19d ago
Forgot to add this; https://ushistory.org/free-online-textbooks/us/the-rise-of-american-industry/25a-the-canal-era