Things are changing at the local, state and national level. Most of the changes look horrible: Rising unemployment, lowering retail sales, budget deficits, foreclosures…. But out of this rubble some good thing may come. Sean McLaughlin from Access Humboldt sums up some of the positive changes that may create an more robust telecommunications infrastructure for us here on the North Coast in today’s Tech Thursday article. Much of these changes, if we pull it...
Broadband Forum
Live blogging of Broadband Forum held in Fortuna’s River Lodge, April 5, 2006. An experiment.
Notes from Broadband Forum IV
Much coverage in the press has and will appear over Broadband Forum IV, but just in case they miss something herewith are notes provided by Larry Goldberg with a few minor edits from me. I understand at some point PowerPoint presentations will be posted on the Redwood Coast Connect web site. BTW, this was an excellent event. Much thanks are due to Connie Stewart and Patty Berg’s office, and to Redwood Coast Rural Action...
Broadband Forum II Issues Raised
I’m not sure how useful my live blogging of Broadband Forum II was to people. I notice traffic has gone up quite a bit so I guess there is interest in the notes. But I wonder if the information provided out of context would mean a great deal to most people. Still, it was fun and could provide a record, at least for me, for reference in the future. We (meaning Morse Media) also...
BB Forum: Wireless Planning
Where are the customers? Are they in a valley? Are they in multi unit housing? The idea is to deploy the correct technology in a specific area. How many will there likely be? Don’t believe surveys. If you get results, cut it in half. People lie. What are the geographic limitations? Wireless allows lots of creative solutions. They believe DSL is dead. It will go the way of ISDN. They aren’t talking about DSL,...
Connie Stewart: What Are the Legislative Potentials
Program has changed. Getting rid of the right of way issues. Needs to be a regional approach. Maybe include Siskiyou county. Pending transportation bond does not include much money for no. california. So a strategy would include let’s focus on broadband and getting rid of the right of way costs. There were three points in this brief presentation. I missed one of them. Maybe someone can fill this in.
BB Forum: Rural Wireless Basics
Rick Kunze of ColusaNet and Marlon Schafer of Odessa Office Equipment & Wireles “Build for 20 years out. If you build for 10 years out, technology will overtake you.” Rick Kunze: 10 gig to the home sounds great, but I have customers whose computers can’t handle 1 gig. It’s sexy, but not realistic. There’s little out there that can feed you data at higher speeds. People are buying the cheapest computers they can find....
BB Forum Post 6: Status of Broadband in Region
Tina Nerat – brief history of RTC and telecom issues over the last 4 years. Details later. Too fast. Runnette Allans from at&t: Our area articulates its needs as far as broadband more clearly than in any other region. at&t will continue to evolve and merge and acquire and grow. However, it will never diminish its attention to smaller markets: Our people live here, our CO is here, our network is here. Gary Mandella,...
BB Forum Post 5 Joaquin Alvarado
Director of the Institute for Next Generation Internet Impacts of Telecommunications on Quality of Life and the Economy Where are we going in the future? Globalization: Everything we do well in the Bay Area in terms of technology (e-anything) other countries think of as what they do in the global economy. How does that impact us, now? How does that impact the students we are training in these technologies? In the Bay Area they...
BB Forum Post 4 Susan Estrada Continues
The Middle Mile Ownership The Ownersip Model: a carrier’s carrier - Focuos on selling to the communciation companies, not individuals - Connect to underserved Communities - Connect to large national carriers for transit Characterisitics of a Carrier’s Carrier Deep understanding of industry Solid financial resources In it for the long haul What is the structure? For profit, privately-owned company Possibly with sme unique goals to ensure that the community is served Middle Mile Operational...
BB Forum Post 3
Susan Estrada Continues: The North Coast Region Mergers and Buy Outs Verizon bought MCI SBC bought AT&T and changed its name to at&t Cebridge is buying Cox (and is changing its name) Level 3 bought WiTel With the mergers and the companies getting larger, our area appears smaller in their corporate maps. Exception is Cebridge which specializes in rural areas. Humboldt will become a bigger presence. One of their largest areas. This is a...
BB Forum Post 2
So, phew! Got past the presentation. Jeff got his check and we are off and running. The first ‘real’ speaker is Susan Estrada. She will be delivering the long awaited findings on her report on Redundant Fiber Optic Business Case. She is President of First Mile USA. US is 16th in the world in use of broadband. Why? No U.S. broadband policy. No understanding of what broadband means No understanding of how to get...
Broadband Forum II Live
I am at Fortuna’s River Lodge and the Broadband Forum is about to begin. Wireless appears to be working. Looks like a great turnout. There are folks here from Del Norte, Mendocino and Humboldt County. Unfortunately, it looks like no one from Trinity. (edit: I wrote this before someone from Triinity was identified, so that’s good). Rollin Richmond will kick off the event. And them ME! I have the distinct honor of presenting RTC’s...
Broadband Forum II Plan
I’m going to take my Powerbook to the Broadband Forum tomorrow. I understand Fortuna’s Riverlodge has wireless access. i plan to test it. And if I can, I will write about the event as it unfolds.
