[PLUG] High Speed Municipal internet

Denis Heidtmann denis.heidtmann at gmail.com
Sun Jul 17 15:33:41 UTC 2011


On Sun, Jul 17, 2011 at 6:12 AM, Rich Shepard <rshepard at appl-ecosys.com>wrote:

> On Sun, 17 Jul 2011, Russell Senior wrote:
>
> > I have come to the conclusion that only by continuing to let our local
> > elected officials know how important it is will we generate the political
> > will necessary to make it happen.
> >
> > Follow http://www.portlandfiber.com/ and write to the Portland City
> Council.
>
>    I follow these threads with mild interest because they are strictly
> Portland-centric. There are a few of us who live east of 82nd Avenue who
> connect to the 'Net in our little hick towns (such as Gresham, Troutdale,
> Wood Village, Fairview, Corbett). We even have paved streets, sidewalks,
> and
> (as difficult as it is for Portland residents to believe) free parking and
> non-constant street construction/repair!
>
>   Perhaps a successful strategy would be to make the effort county wide and
> bring in the fun politics of small town Oregon along with the that of the
> big
> city.
>
>   That such can be done in the Oregon boondocks is evidenced by the
> successful efforts of Fred Ziari, a highly successful agricultural
> consultant who's expanded into several related areas such as large-scale
> underground water storage in the Umatilla basin and wide-area wireless
> access to the 'Net across most of eastern (at least the northern portion of
> eastern) Oregon. (There are still vast reaches of Radio Free Oregon as we
> confirmed week driving to Winnemucca via Madras, Prineville, Burns,
> Frenchglen, and Fields.)
>
> Rich


I do not think that many would argue against your position that it is easier
to get many things done in lower-density regions.  What I object to is your
snide broad-brush slam of Portland residents.  Have a cup of coffee and take
a deep breath.

Your idea of approaching HS internet at the county level may have some
merit.  Are there a few persons in Multnomah  County Government who might be
able to run with this?

-Denis



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