[RTC List] Local Broadband Stimulus Money

[Mike]

Larry & all:

	Yeah, what you said. I've been watching this shape up and I don't like
it one bit. We would benefit from participating in the larger efforts
and in particular would find it useful to have funding or access to
grant writing services and consultants to get that polished final
product ready when the grants are opened up, but nobody I have
communicated with (and who is 'in' on this process) seems to be willing
to do that. There is that single minded mindset like "this is just what
we're going to do and sorry you've busted your ass for 7 years here, now
the money has arrived we don't need you anymore...".

	To be sure, since we're not invited to the party, we're simply going to
pitch rus/ntia directly. I don't think there is anyone in mendocino
county that knows the situation here better or who has _demonstrated_,
funding or not, the impetus and resourcefulness to actually go after the
problems here and build a viable business out of it anyways. I think
this raises the likelyhood that any grants received will result in
sustainable business, as opposed to big expensive fiber to nowhere
that's fine until the money runs out and it's all dark and does nothing
for nobody.

Mike-