The RTC will drive regional prosperity by leveraging technology to:
- Collaborate as an active partner in creating a sustainable, growing economy;
- Partner with educational institutions and businesses to increase the knowledge base and the capacity of our local workforce;
- Ensure that telecommunications are robust, accessible, affordable, and ubiquitous;
- Promote effective use of technology in local businesses
- Convene common interests and create a socially and physically networked community that is a magnet for high tech start ups and high tech collaborations.
RTC Board
John McBrearty, Humboldt State University
Bob Morse, Morse Media
Daria Topousis, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Michael Kraft, Northcoast Small Business Development Center
Steve Stratton, College of the Redwoods
Mary Cruse, Humboldt Film and Digital Media Commission
RTC History
In the mid-1990s, RTC was an informal, small group meeting in a member’s living room. In 1997, RTC was formed with assistance from the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), establishing a web site, electing board members, and collecting dues. By 1998, the group evolved to 20 members and started meeting at the Redwood Region Economic Development Commission (RREDC) office. Tech Expo, an event that showcased the local technology industry, started and the group went through some growing pains.
By 2000-2001, RTC had grown to around 30 members, became a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, and began growing the membership to encompass all types of businesses and individuals in the region. Members started writing a weekly Tech Beat column in the Times-Standard newspaper. A new web site was developed and Tech Expos continued. Local telecommunications challenges emerged on the RTC radar.
2002-2003 saw fast growth in membership, partly due to rallying around a cause – the SBC/Caltrans fiber optic impasse. Work on SBC’s fiber optic line from the Bay Area stopped because Caltrans wanted $2+ million in unprecedented right-of way fees. RTC took the lead role in advocating for a resolution to the impasse. By September 2003, SBC put the fees in escrow and completed the fiber optic line, bringing more capacity for broadband to the North Coast.
In 2004-2005, the RTC member roster grew to 125. The County of Humboldt financed a telecom infrastructure and analysis project, which produced a report called Living in a Networked World (see Hot Topics for links to report). This report raised awareness of lack of broadband coverage around the County and of our precarious situation with only one fiber route into the region. 2005 was the last Tech Expo, and the first Broadband Forum.
2006 saw the hiring of a part time staff person to grow the capacity of RTC. 2006 initiatives are to continue to advocate for an alternate fiber optic route and for ubiquitous broadband coverage in Humboldt County.