I participated a week or two ago in a focus group consisting of local non-profits. The message below is now circulating, looking for public input.
My own view, and it is shared by some other PTP activists, is that what Portland needs is a path forward away from rent-seeking, freedom-limiting mega-corporations, towards non-profit, freedom-enhancing, capacity-improving last-mile ownership. I would encourage you to respond to this survey to get your voice heard. If you agree, you can tell them you support Personal Telco's ambitions for the community. Given the economic and political climate right now, I think the logical next step is a demonstration fiber-to-the-premises project, showing what such a last-mile non-profit utility would look like. Back of the envelope calculations suggest that a thousand-premises demonstration project could be built for one or two million bucks. The stream of money being poured into the maw of Comcast and Qwest could easily fund this were it to be diverted to a less rapacious, more customer-utility focused alternative. Here is the MHCRC's call for input: The YourVoice initiative is seeking the local community's ideas and thoughts about our current use and future needs for communications technology, here in Multnomah County. The initiative will provide data and input for us to better understand the local communities' needs, desires and vision for the future. The views and expertise of individuals, organizations, businesses, libraries, schools, government agencies, etc. are a critical component for this initiative. As many know, access to and use of communications media and technology (the internet, cell phones, PDAs, netbooks, laptops, wireless/fiber, video production, etc.) has become a critical underpinning of our society. Only you know what you, your organization, your business, your school, your family, your neighborhood, for example need to equitably participate in civic, social and economic life throughout Multnomah County. At the local level, we must better understand those needs in order to ensure the future of our communications technology over the next 20 years is inclusive, local and accessible. So please, HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD. Get involved. YOUR PARTICIPATION IS ESSENTIAL. The survey is designed for people 14 years and older who live and/or work in Portland, Gresham, Fairview, Troutdale, Wood Village and Multnomah County. Responses will remain anonymous and will only be reported as part of a larger group. Please, take the survey (either online at www.mhcrc.org/yourvoice.html, or by mail or over the phone by calling 503.823.5385) and then share the link widely and encourage your family, friends, coworkers, etc. to participate too. YourVoice is an initiative of the Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission www.mhcrc.org Thank you, -- Russell Senior, President [email protected] -- The Personal Telco Project - http://www.personaltelco.net/ Donate to PTP: http://www.personaltelco.net/donate Archives: http://news.gmane.org/gmane.network.wireless.portland.general/ Etiquette: http://www.personaltelco.net/index.cgi/MailingListEtiquette List information: http://lists.personaltelco.net To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]
