[RTC List] Broadband Associates project

[Larry Goldberg]

It is now "official" - Broadband Associates have been approved for  
CASF funding of $7.8 million.  As per my last "rant" on the RTC list,  
I have serious concerns about this project.  I should point out,  
however, that few of you seem to share my concern about this project  
insofar as I received virtually no feedback on my comments.  As you  
may know, we have until Feb. 4th to submit comments to the CPUC on  
this proposal, so I urge the RTC to take a position on this project.   
The Board of Supervisors may put this on an upcoming agenda and we  
should be represented and have a public position on the issue.

In an effort to solicit honest feedback on this important issue to us,  
I ask for folks to consider the following:
1) Should the RTC take an official stand on the project (after all,  
it's technically our single biggest technical infrastructure concern)
2) If we have concerns, what are they?
3) Is this the best and most cost-effective answer to our concerns?
4) Are there other alternatives that should be considered?

I would like to go on record with the following concerns:

1) I support redundant/alternate paths for broadband.  Is it essential  
that they be fiber?
2) What are the actual broadband demand projections for the area and  
who made them?  Any supporting documentation?
3) Where is the rest of the projected $19+ million of the Broadband  
Associates project coming from?  Are these hard commitments?
4) There is already a redundant/alternate broadband path for fiber  
project pending (IP Networks Hwy. 36 project) which supposedly is less  
costly than the projected Broadband Associates project, yet it cannot  
get sufficient commitments to move forward. Why is there a better  
chance for the Broadband Associates project to be financially viable?
5) Other than CENIC, who we know is the primary mover on this project,  
who else is committed to funding at this time?  Will additional public  
money be required and, if so, where is it coming from?
6) Can we see the Broadband Associates proposal?  What are the project  
specifics?
7) What, if any, are the alternatives and what do they cost & who will  
pay for them?
8) Does the public need to support one project over another and, if  
so,  do we go on record supporting a particular project?

Does anyone else share my concerns or I am totally off-base on this?   
I welcome your feedback.