I've met with the ConnectKentucky guys a few times. In fact, a few of them are my customers. Like all government programs any "results" are few and far between. -RickG
On Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 11:30 AM, Marlon K. Schafer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > If I know Chip his name's not rining a bell right now. But I've talked to > or met a LOT of people over the years and I tend to forget names far too > quickly. > > All programs like this give me the heeby geebies. At least so far they do. > > One good note is that it's about time Government started proactively > collecting 477 type data if they want it. It's really non of their business > as long as I'm paying my taxes, but I really hate having to do the work for > them when they want to know something..... > > marlon > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Stuart Pierce" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "Marlon K. Schafer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 6:38 AM > Subject: Re: [WISPA] Connect Ohio Program? anyone heard of this > > >> connectohio is headed by apparently Chip Spann out of Kentucky of all >> places and wants to know all kinds of information about your business and >> is getting paid to collect it. >> >> He says he knows Marlon, Patrick and a few others. I've got the forms from >> him, but never filled them out, didn't give me a good vibe. >> >> ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- >> From: "Marlon K. Schafer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:08:20 -0700 >> >>>It's all about grant money Kurt. >>> >>>Somehow, once we actually start fixing these problems they start to forget >>>that we're out there. >>> >>>Wanna have some fun? Call the governor's office and relate these >>>things/stories and see what they have to say. grin >>>marlon >>> >>>----- Original Message ----- >>>From: "Kurt Fankhauser" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>To: "'WISPA General List'" <wireless@wispa.org> >>>Sent: Monday, August 11, 2008 6:55 PM >>>Subject: [WISPA] Connect Ohio Program? anyone heard of this >>> >>> >>>> Just got done reading an article in my local newspaper here. Apparently >>>> there was a meeting here in the county about how we need more broadband >>>> options. Funny thing is no one ever called any of the 4 wireless >>>> providers >>>> in the county here and asked them to attend. And there is a group >>>> touring >>>> around with the governor called "Connect Ohio" with a moto of "No child >>>> left >>>> un-connected." Has anyone here heard any of this at all. I've never >>>> heard >>>> any one mention it but apparently it sounds as if this has been going on >>>> for >>>> a while. And then at the end of the article there is the local American >>>> Red >>>> Cross guy saying we are like a third world country, funny thing is they >>>> called me up about getting service in at that Red Cross Chapter and they >>>> were supposed to get hooked up but never did cause they canceled the >>>> install! >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Article is attached. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Kurt Fankhauser >>>> WAVELINC >>>> P.O. Box 126 >>>> Bucyrus, OH 44820 >>>> 419-562-6405 >>>> www.wavelinc.com >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _____ >>>> >>>> From: NewsBank -- service provider for Telegraph-Forum Archives >>>> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>> Sent: Monday, August 11, 2008 9:41 PM >>>> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>> Subject: Telegraph-Forum Document >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Telegraph-Forum (Bucyrus, OH) >>>> >>>> >>>> Telegraph-Forum (Bucyrus, OH) >>>> >>>> July 24, 2008 >>>> >>>> What can better broadband mean to Crawford County? >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> By Gary Ogle >>>> >>>> Telegraph-Forum >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> GALION -- A high-tech future demands high speed Internet. A large group >>>> of >>>> community leaders from Crawford County dreamed and discussed Wednesday >>>> afternoon about what better broadband service could mean to the people >>>> they >>>> help, the people they hire, the people they serve and those they >>>> educate. >>>> >>>> "One of the biggest problems," North Central State's Don Plotts said, >>>> "is >>>> getting people to understand they need technology." >>>> >>>> The session at Galion Community Hospital, part of Gov. Ted Strickland's >>>> Connect Ohio initiative "to accelerate technology and close the digital >>>> divide," was led by Sage Cutler and Gary Lambert of Connect Ohio. People >>>> from all facets of Crawford County, described as leaders in the >>>> eCommunity, >>>> were invited to discuss how their companies and organizations use >>>> broadband >>>> now and how it could impact them in the future. >>>> >>>> "This is the second benchmark work session in the state," Cutler said. >>>> Gallia County was the first and all 88 counties in the state will begin >>>> the >>>> process within the next two years. >>>> >>>> Cutler said Crawford County was selected to be among the first "because >>>> there were some other broadband initiatives (here)." >>>> >>>> Those in attendance included government officials from across the >>>> county, >>>> representatives of business and industry, education, health care and >>>> community organizations. >>>> >>>> Part of the process was to divide them into nine "sectors" as defined by >>>> their profession or the organization they represented. Wednesday's >>>> meeting >>>> had participants in seven of the nine sectors. >>>> >>>> Each sector discussed where it was at locally regarding broadband use, >>>> its >>>> application and implication, and what could be improved in the near >>>> future >>>> with better broadband resources. Cutler explained that Connect Ohio is a >>>> public/private partnership. >>>> >>>> "It's not costing the counties a thing," Cutler said. "That's going to >>>> be >>>> the cost the providers themselves invest." >>>> >>>> The concept is that by detailing the needs and potential for effective >>>> broadband usage in each county, Internet providers will have a better >>>> idea >>>> of where and how to invest in improving service. >>>> >>>> "It's driven by supply and demand like every other commodity," Cutler >>>> said. >>>> >>>> The importance of quality broadband use is obvious to a business like >>>> Lifetouch Church Directories of Galion which deals in publications using >>>> digital photography. >>>> >>>> "It's a huge value. The affordable availability to of broadband is >>>> critical >>>> to our company's future," Steve McElhatten said. "We have communications >>>> that come in large data files. These use are just huge files." >>>> >>>> The faster those files can be transmitted, the faster they can be >>>> processed. >>>> >>>> To the general public better Internet service with broadband can lower >>>> transportation costs because more people will be able to work from home. >>>> It >>>> can also mean more affordable opportunities in education because of the >>>> availability of improved and more comprehensive online classes. >>>> >>>> But at first glance availability and affordability don't appear to be a >>>> problem in Crawford County. >>>> >>>> Connect Ohio's research shows that the county has higher than average >>>> availability compared to the rest of the state. The average cost in Ohio >>>> for >>>> broadband service to households is just over $35 per month. In Crawford >>>> County the price ranges from $29.92 to $32.52. >>>> >>>> But the county's rate of adaptability, efficient and effective use of >>>> the >>>> Internet, is just 36 percent compared to 55 percent statewide. >>>> >>>> "Higher availability, lower adaptability," Lambert said. "The question >>>> is >>>> why?" >>>> >>>> Many of those in attendance agreed with Plott about convincing people of >>>> the >>>> value and necessity of broadband Internet service. >>>> >>>> "Our biggest issues aren't necessarily access, it's more awareness and >>>> adoption," said Crawford County OSU extension agent and professor, Steve >>>> Prohaska, who sat in on the agriculture sector. Citing the value of >>>> real-time information, Prohaska used the example of the effect of >>>> Japanese >>>> beetles on a farmer's crop of corn. >>>> >>>> "People can make or save money immediately with the click of a button," >>>> Prohaska said, noting agriculture was still the county's biggest >>>> industry. >>>> >>>> Wynford superintendent, Steve Mohr, said Internet access in students' >>>> homes >>>> to communicate with parents about their children and students' ability >>>> to >>>> do >>>> research outside the classrooom is a pressing issue. >>>> >>>> "One of the problems we have is a lack of Internet service, particularly >>>> for >>>> low income, rural families," Mohr said. >>>> >>>> Part of the Connect Ohio initiative is a portion called No Child Left >>>> Unconnected that has a goal of placing computers in the homes of >>>> disadvantaged families. >>>> >>>> Gary Miller, Crawford County commissioner, said providing information >>>> and >>>> services for constituents and sharing information between government >>>> entities would be valuable. >>>> >>>> "Dollars, time and people would be high on our priority list," Miller >>>> said. >>>> >>>> Another local issue regarding broadband service is band width. The wider >>>> the >>>> band, the greater volume and complexity of information it can carry. >>>> While >>>> some homes and businesses may currently have a form of broadband, cost >>>> and >>>> availability may prohibit them from receiving the type of service that >>>> is >>>> most beneficial to their needs. >>>> >>>> "That's the problem here in Crawford County, we're at the end of the >>>> line," >>>> said Mike Morton, head of the local chapter of the American Red Cross. >>>> "We're like a third world country when it comes to being connected. >>>> Afghanistan is connected, Crawford County is not." >>>> >>>> The group's next meeting is tentatively set for 3 p.m., Sept. 17 at >>>> Lowe-Volk Park. >>>> >>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>> >>>> 419-563-9225 >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >>>> http://signup.wispa.org/ >>>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> >>>> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >>>> >>>> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >>>> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >>>> >>>> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >>> >>> >> >> >> >> >> >> ________________________________________________________________ >> Sent via the WebMail system at avolve.net >> >> >> >> > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > WISPA Wants You! Join today! > http://signup.wispa.org/ > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org > > Subscribe/Unsubscribe: > http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless > > Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wants You! 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