Sorry if this is New Mexico centric, but I'd like to mention a post from another list, 1st-mile-nm. Its a grass-roots approach to improving community broadband. The conversation was about amazing broadband success in Chattanooga, Tenn .. and similar success in CO. A post on CO's success suggests we can "just do it" ourselves:
http://www.illvoteforyouifyoumakemynetflixwork.org/ The question to the NM members of the lists is whether or not you'd be interested in the first step, forming a Local Broadband Planning Team, which implements the "5A's", below. Before we start, however, I'd like Richard Lowenberg and other experts to comment on the approach. -- Owen *#1 Aggregate Experience *You will need to establish a Local Broadband Planning Team. Team members are best recruited based on a) prior experience in efforts to improve the communities broadband environment b) elected officials c) technical expertise d) local service providers. *#2 Assess Your Broadband Environment *"Ya gotta count it before you can cure it". Why is your internet slow? Is it the infrastructure? If so, what part needs to be fixed? Is the middle mile "redundant, abundant and affordable"? *#3 Assess and Aggregate Demand *What internet speeds are people currently getting in your community? What do they pay for that? What speeds does your community need in order to retain and attract industry? What will businesses and residences pay for quality broadband? If you build it, will they come? *#4 Adopt Existing Resources and Solutions *What broadband-related resources already reside in your community? In using existing resources, it is possible to save millions of dollars in capital expenditure on broadband infrastructure. The use of disruptive technologies and carrier neutral locations can expedite the deployment of broadband in your community. *#5 Adapt for Sustainability *Once you have built it, how will you keep it running years, decades and generations into the future? What is the history of your electric utility? Water plant? Streets? What is the legal or business entity that will succeed year after year in maintaining broadband infrastructure?
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