[RTC List] RTC Meeting June 25th

[Daria Topousis]

Larry,

Thanks for you recommendations about the meeting.  We are bringing in a faciltator who is planning on sending out some questions in advance.  Stay tuned!

See you tomorrow,
Daria
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Larry Goldberg 
  To: list at redwoodtech.org 
  Cc: wirelessfreedom at willitsonline.com ; Northcoast Broadband Forum 
  Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 1:20 PM
  Subject: Re: [RTC List] RTC Meeting June 25th


  First of all, I want to commend the RTC board for "stepping up to the plate" to do what's necessary in this critical time for our community's broadband future.  With Kathy Moxon now at the helm organizing and direction our community's broadband stimulus efforts, I feel a great sense of relief that we're getting back on track.


  With that said, I offered the RTC board some suggestions on how to handle tomorrow's meeting:
    a.. The purpose of this meeting is not to select any individual technologies, specific projects or technical approaches.  We need to help guide the decision-makers (whether they're the Board of Supes, local government or some other organization) and need to offer broad policy guidance and not micro-management advice.
    b.. We should consider and, hopefully, adopt a set of "guiding principles" for the decision-makers
    c.. We should make our technical expertise available to decision-makers if they should require independent technical assessments as part of a review process.
    d.. We should encourage the Board of Supervisors to form a "Broadband Task Force" to help on this and future broadband issues.
    e.. We should emphasize policies which provide the maximum efforts to unserved and under-served markets
    f.. We should promote public education and awareness of broadband issues
    g.. We should work with other organizations, but not be subservient to their plans


  I have some concerns, as well:
    a.. While a tremendous effort went into the RCC report (over two years of work), the final report was never opened to community review and comment and therefore I don't believe it fully represents the best policy recommendations at this time.  I believe that if we rely on their findings exclusively, this could be a problem, but we should certainly utilize any and all data which supports our regional application.
    b.. Over the past five years or so a series of technical studies have been conducted without any public review or comment and are now being cited as "established policy."  I urge everyone to make educated decisions on our broadband policy goals based on sound logic and "ground truth."  I believe that further discussion is necessary to develop a comprehensive long-term broadband plan and this is a good start.
    c.. While "Middle-mile" has become the mantra for fixing ALL our broadband problems, we should not neglect last-mile issues, public education, public open access and local peering as critical network & broadband policy issues.


  As far as the guiding principles go, I recommend that we consider the following:
    a.. adopt the 70/10/10/10 principle proposed by Sean McLaughlin.
    b.. Encourage a coordinated regional approach to broadband implementation
    c.. Encourage a single public authority to help guide and administer a regional broadband network
    d.. Adopt a cost-benefit analysis which identifies all the costs of a project and all the benefits (direct and indirect)
    e.. Promote all proposals which utilize the maximum of local talent and locally made products
    f.. Calculate total jobs produced (short-term & long-term)
    g.. Support long-term financial viability & sustainability analysis
    h.. Promote some free public access in every community
    i.. Support continued development of a regional strategic broadband policy
    j.. Ensure that all projects are complimentary (and integrate) with the overall broadband plan
    k.. The RTC should remain engaged and directly involved in formulation of broadband policy for the region


  That's my two cents worth.  I'll see you all tomorrow. 


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