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 good thing.
Our Region is Profoundly impacted by extrnal forces
Caltrans
Especially scenic route fees (PG&E right of ways as alternative also carry exorbitant fees)
Coastal Commission
CPUC/FCC – as fiber crosses regional and state boundaries red tape and fees mount
Federal Lands
State Lands
Geology and weather
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Who’s using the single fiber line on the North Coast?
Communications Companies: Cox, Frontier, Verizon, etc.
Education: HSU, CR, Co. Offices of Ed.
County and City Govt.
State Govt.: State Parks, Wildlife, and Fiseries, Forestry, CHP, Caltrans, etc.
Industry: Manufacturing, Services, tourism, Media
Federal Govt.: National Park, National Weather Service, Coast Guard, etc.
What happens when the line fails?
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The Middle Mile
(IE what the fiber line connecting to the larger Internet is called)
The Middle Mile ensures the First Mile (your connection at home, business, school):
Telemedicine
Education
Entertainment (we don’t like to admit it, but this is a huge economic force. People mag. earns 1billion/year)
E-jobs (live/work anywhere)
“Are you going to risk your life or financial well-being on an extended outage?”