Comments on: ATCAA role in local Broadband expansion significant

By: More About ATCAA’s Effort: SierraMountainTimes.com | ATCAA Welcomes You!

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:08:42 +0000

[...] also posted the letter on her blog, here: http://www.terimurrison.com/2009/03/atcaa-role-in-local-broadband-expansion-significant Share and Enjoy: This entry was posted in Pressroom and tagged press. Bookmark the permalink. [...]

By: Teri

Teri — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:50:42 +0000

Based on a conversation with him, I don’t think Marv intended folks to reach that conclusion. He hadn’t been actively involved since we were talking about the county implementing a system and may not have been aware that the “plan” had morphed from an orderly progression to something not unlike the Oklahoma Land Rush! OK, so that’s probably an exaggeration, but it provides an interesting mental image of what’s taking place with stimulus $$ possibly available now, no?

The underlying misunderstanding was more a matter of the county and ATCAA realizing that there are going to be phases to expanding Broadband and that private companies will be doing the implementation and thinking everyone was tracking with the process. We knew what we were talking about, but others didn’t. Marv’s printing my response and more observations soon, I understand.

By the way, I’m really glad you caught that CPUC mis-categorization! Thanks!

By: Ken Pulvino

Ken Pulvino — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:47:48 +0000

As Co-Chairman of the CSC Executive Council, and an evangelist for a Regional BB solution for the Yosemite area for the past 4 years through my work in various organizations, I want to second Greg's comments and the correctness of what Teri's blog comments clarified. I would also offer another specific example of how CSC's work on demand aggregation directly related to improving our chances for securing funding for high speed internet in our area. Until I corrected the CPUC database listing for my district in Mariposa County, we held less chance of being considered as a primary location for funding support. Now, with the CPUC's response in listing the area ( 95311 ) as "unserved" any grant application seeking funds to provide service to this area will be given a higher priority rating. This is the kind of work that CSC has been doing. The conclusions offered in the article that CSC was a waste of money were erroneous and misleading.

By: GregF

GregF — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 03:37:45 +0000

While I can understand people's frustration with the slow pace of progress around the deployment of broadband Internet access, there is progress nonetheless. As one of those who has been involved in this process since its early days, I can tell you that it will require a complex solution with many moving parts. When the California Emerging Technologies Fund (CETF) was formed, I was all for getting ahold of some money and building stuff. However, I reluctantly concluded that it made more sense to study the problem first and if CETF was willing to pony up a chunk of change for that purpose, so much the better. Following the acceptance of the "Aggragation of Information" study, they will very likely provide even more funding for the implementation phase.

Michelle Shelton and the Amador-Tuolumne County Action Agency (A-TCAA) have put an amazing amount of time and energy into bringing this project to our county. With the new stimulus bill offering Federal money for broadband and associated services, A-TCAA's efforts have put us in a much stronger position to receive additional funds for these badly needed services.

Thanks, Teri for writing up such a comprehensive history of the process so far.

By: Teri

Teri — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 19:50:52 +0000

I agree, Greg. Since you were around when the effort began, I appreciate your weighing in. It hasn’t turned out like we originally conceptualized it, but it just may be better!

By: Teri

Teri — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 19:07:55 +0000

You bet, Chucker! Unless the 108 Corridor all the way up to Strawberry (and beyond, when we can) is served, I won’t feel we’ve achieved what we set out to do in expansion of Broadband. There are many folks who live in the high country full time (and many who visit whenever they can) that would be well served by an expansion up there. Our businesses would benefit up there too!

Enjoy another beautiful and sunshiney day up there today! Teri

By: Chucker Twining

Chucker Twining — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 19:02:36 +0000

Terri, Thanks for "the rest of the story". As a realtor and living in Strawberry I have had several calls asking about this story and what it may mean to people on the mountain.
Chucker

By: Teri

Teri — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 21:16:48 +0000

Hmmm… that’s a question for the companies. What I can say is that if you want better access to Broadband, let those companies know where you live and what you want. At this point, I am not aware of any DSL expansion plans in the Cedar Ridge area, but hey, it sounds like pretty much anything would be an improvement for you!