Comments on: Some Setbacks for Telecommunications Efforts http://talkingtech.net/2008/01/16/some-setbacks-for-telecommunications-efforts/ life and technology on the north coast of california Fri, 05 Dec 2008 03:05:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Another Voice http://talkingtech.net/2008/01/16/some-setbacks-for-telecommunications-efforts/#comment-29664 Another Voice Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:09:27 +0000 http://talkingtech.net/2008/01/16/some-setbacks-for-telecommunications-efforts/#comment-29664 Oops. Wrong word. Replace "suggesting" with "disputing" in the first sentence. It should read "I am not disputing the inevitability of ubiquitous bandwidth". Oops. Wrong word. Replace “suggesting” with “disputing” in the first sentence. It should read “I am not disputing the inevitability of ubiquitous bandwidth”.

]]> By: Another Voice http://talkingtech.net/2008/01/16/some-setbacks-for-telecommunications-efforts/#comment-29663 Another Voice Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:05:49 +0000 http://talkingtech.net/2008/01/16/some-setbacks-for-telecommunications-efforts/#comment-29663 I am not suggesting the inevitability of ubiquitous bandwidth, nor am I suggesting the City of Eureka should not take advantage of it. However the City does not have a very good track record of managing technology, as can easily be witnessed by looking at how dismal their web site is. I am more comfortable with a city passing ordinances and zoning laws that allow the private sector to step forward to deploy the infrastructure. If it is cost effective they will do so, if it is not then we are shown it is probably premature to do so now. That is what most of these studies around the country have shown, and why such municipalities as San Francisco and Chicago have currently abandoned the effort. So my objection was in spending this kind of money to do this study. For the complexity of the problem, it did not seem me to do a feasibility study should cost this much. But I confess to have not having read either the proposal nor the response, just the agenda summary sent to city council. It may not have done this project justice. I will review this in more depth and see if I change my mind. I am not suggesting the inevitability of ubiquitous bandwidth, nor am I suggesting the City of Eureka should not take advantage of it. However the City does not have a very good track record of managing technology, as can easily be witnessed by looking at how dismal their web site is.

I am more comfortable with a city passing ordinances and zoning laws that allow the private sector to step forward to deploy the infrastructure. If it is cost effective they will do so, if it is not then we are shown it is probably premature to do so now. That is what most of these studies around the country have shown, and why such municipalities as San Francisco and Chicago have currently abandoned the effort.

So my objection was in spending this kind of money to do this study. For the complexity of the problem, it did not seem me to do a feasibility study should cost this much. But I confess to have not having read either the proposal nor the response, just the agenda summary sent to city council. It may not have done this project justice. I will review this in more depth and see if I change my mind.

]]> By: Bob http://talkingtech.net/2008/01/16/some-setbacks-for-telecommunications-efforts/#comment-29651 Bob Sun, 20 Jan 2008 00:48:21 +0000 http://talkingtech.net/2008/01/16/some-setbacks-for-telecommunications-efforts/#comment-29651 Sorry you feel that way. The feasibility study should deliver far more than that. The whole point would be to examine what the scope of the wireless network might be, its costs, its benefits, its sustainability. Ubiquitous broadband is inevitable. Eureka can ignore and try to catch up. Or see if its possible to be a leader. It's not that much money when you understand what the potential is. Anyway, we'll see what the staff comes back with in a couple weeks. Sorry you feel that way. The feasibility study should deliver far more than that. The whole point would be to examine what the scope of the wireless network might be, its costs, its benefits, its sustainability.

Ubiquitous broadband is inevitable. Eureka can ignore and try to catch up. Or see if its possible to be a leader. It’s not that much money when you understand what the potential is.

Anyway, we’ll see what the staff comes back with in a couple weeks.

]]> By: Another Voice http://talkingtech.net/2008/01/16/some-setbacks-for-telecommunications-efforts/#comment-29620 Another Voice Fri, 18 Jan 2008 05:03:41 +0000 http://talkingtech.net/2008/01/16/some-setbacks-for-telecommunications-efforts/#comment-29620 I read the proposal to do this study. I don't think you need to spend this kind of money to know this is not the way to go about this. The only thing these consultants have told other municipalities they have contracted with to do this study is to be very cautious. No kidding. Where are the benefits that would justify this kind of expense? I am glad the City Council shelved this for the moment. I read the proposal to do this study. I don’t think you need to spend this kind of money to know this is not the way to go about this. The only thing these consultants have told other municipalities they have contracted with to do this study is to be very cautious.

No kidding. Where are the benefits that would justify this kind of expense? I am glad the City Council shelved this for the moment.

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