[RTC List] Local Broadband Stimulus Money

[Larry Goldberg]

Bob,

I forgot who is on the Board of Directors of the RTC, but given what  
has transpired over the past week, I am formally requesting the  
following:

I hereby request a special meeting be held by the RTC to receive  
public input specifically about the use of public funds for broadband  
projects and how projects should be selected and prioritized.  This  
meeting should take place prior to the scheduled luncheon (I propose  
within the next two weeks) and be publicly noticed to invite all  
community members to attend and participate.  I request the RTC  
prepare and adopt a position on how publicly funded broadband projects  
should be selected and, if possible, identify key technical issues  
hampering widespread broadband usage in our region.  Our position  
should be reported to elected representatives at appropriate public  
meetings prior to selection of projects for stimulus money.

It's time to stand up and be counted.  RTC board - please do what you  
were elected to do - represent our interests and step up to this  
challenge.

On May 7, 2009, at 10:13 AM, Bob Morse wrote:

> It's odd that RTC had to hear of this plan after the horse was out  
> of the barn. Perhaps others were in the loop, but I sure wasn't. I  
> think part of the problem, though, may be finding a consensus among  
> RTC members as to what the RTC stance on this and similar projects  
> is. As you can tell from the the posts on this list, there are  
> widely varying opinions.
>
>
> Rick Blanchard wrote:
>>
>> I agree as well however, why was the RTC established if not to  
>> present ideas and expertise to the decision makers in our area.  
>> This area has gone too long with the "good old boy" mentality and  
>> the reason I joined the RTC was in hope to lend my experience and  
>> ideas. If the experience and expertise of the RTC Members go  
>> unnoticed or unheard, why have a consortium? To just talk between  
>> the members? Perhaps all of us can come up with a presentation to  
>> give to the County, City and Local Government Agencies which would  
>> allow us the opportunity to attend meetings about local development  
>> and input our thoughts and opinions. After all, in the areas of  
>> technology, our members are the local experts.
>>
>> Rick Blanchard
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Mike
>> Cc: list at redwoodtech.org
>> Sent: Thursday, May 07, 2009 12:50 AM
>> Subject: Re: [RTC List] Local Broadband Stimulus Money
>>
>>
>> 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-
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> List mailing list
>> List at redwoodtech.org
>> http://redwoodtech.org/mailman/listinfo/list_redwoodtech.org
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> List mailing list
>> List at redwoodtech.org
>> http://redwoodtech.org/mailman/listinfo/list_redwoodtech.org
>>
>
>
> -- 
> Bob Morse
> Morse Media
> Web Development * Web Hosting * Internet Marketing
> http://morsemedia.net
> 707-444-9566
> 707-496-9191 (cell)
> Blog: http://talkingtech.net
> _______________________________________________
> List mailing list
> List at redwoodtech.org
> http://redwoodtech.org/mailman/listinfo/list_redwoodtech.org

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://redwoodtech.org/pipermail/list_redwoodtech.org/attachments/20090507/dffd3036/attachment.html>