Obviously, you can't operate a system at 100 percent capacity. You need room for growth. And because there are peak times, you need surge capacity. But it is easier to reduce and manage excess capacity in larger units than smaller, especially when you have a diversity of users who have different peak periods and different growth rates. That's why the utility model is intriguing.

I think I hear the voice of an environmentalist. Why stop with Alaska, however. Why don't we depopulate Montana, Idaho, Washington, Colorado the California and turn them back into pristine land masses as well. You can't have enough pristine land masses - that's my view.

Obviously, you can't operate a system at 100 percent capacity. You need room for growth. And because there are peak times, you need surge capacity. But it is easier to reduce and manage excess capacity in larger units than smaller, especially when you have a diversity of users who have different peak periods and different growth rates. That's why the utility model is intriguing.

No outsourcing the "soul" of the company - let's all agree to that. But most companies are more body than soul.

I love these appeals to the "complexity of doing business in Alaska." If you want to live in remote villages or places with hostile weather and environment, that's certainly your right. But why is it you please continue to expect that the rest of us are responsible for making that economically feasible. You already get a big boost from oil and other natural resources. If that's not enough to pay for the infrastructure you say you need, maybe you should consider moving down here. No passport or work visa is required.

If what you paid for an engine that could go 120 is significantly higher than the cost of an engine that would get you to 90, then you are "wasting" capacity. Its probably not a big deal in the case of your car. But it may be a big deal to a company when it comes to its computer system's capacity.

I think we should be clear: Companies will still need software that furthers their corporate goals and even gives them competitive advantage. That would be purchased and developed, if necessary, in house, or on a proprietary basis. But it needs to run on the company's computer system eventually, and its perfectly possible that system/network can be "rented out" from a utility.