[seul-edu] Re: [GKD] Small Towns Build Their Own High-Speed Internet Systems

[tom poe <tompoe@renonevada.net>]

Hi:  Two years ago, as you may dimly remember, I posted this:
http://www.worldccr.org/kiosks.htm
in response to the discussions here, and through the Stockholm Challenge.  
The missing piece, turns out to be the market consultant that could open the 
door to a corporate partner for "making it happen".  Even with the promise of 
a multi-million dollar commission that took nothing away from the recipients, 
this step remains open.

Today, there is an alternative path being pursued.  This path is directed at 
the schools, directly.  By providing a means to set up networks that are 
without licensing restrictions, on computers that can be obtained through 
donations and programs similar to what is mentioned above, entire countries 
can have the infrastructure filled in with pennies.  The wireless aspects can 
be pursued without regulatory "approval", and the governments of so many 
countries working to control broadband access requirements can sit on their 
expensive and questionable decisions.  I encourage you to visit 
http://www.seul.org/ and its ISO project, 
http://www.seul.org/edu/projects.html
and see how it might fit with your efforts.
Thanks,
Tom Poe
Reno, NV
http://www.studioforrecording.org/
http://www.ibiblio.org/studioforrecording/
http://renotahoe.pm.org/


On Friday 26 April 2002 01:10, Alan Levy wrote:
> Peter Burgess <Profitinafrica@aol.com> wrote:
> > The posting by Alan Levy regarding small towns building their own high
> > speed internet system is also the justification for the rural strategy
> > being implemented by ATCnet in Africa. The technology is powerful enough
> > and low cost enough for service to be universal and sustainable .... but
> > not at the high cost of capital and high cost of fees and taxation that
> > are recommended by many international development advisors and
> > institutions.
>
> I am desiring that one non-profit public/private partnership Internet
> infrastructure initiative receive spectrum and funding. This was the
> lauded advice from the World Economic Forum, in their report contracted
> by and issued to the G-8, "Sustaining Growth and Bridging the Digital
> Divides." Although the report provided the underlying basis for DOT
> Force, and was issued a couple of years ago, not one infrastructure
> initiative has been developed.
>
> In fact, the report ushered in large scale funding by incumbents for
> digital divide intiatives focused on issues other than basic access, or
> infrastructure. We all know why. And most already recognize that
> ninety percent of telecenters are non-sustainable... each absorbing
> funds that might provide wireless access to thousands.
>
> Certain development agencies, when contacted by foreign governments
> interested in exploring public/private partnerships, reported that
> funding for this type initiative was too difficult, took too long and
> came with too many controls and restrictions. According to officials in
> the SCT (federal communications department) in Mexico, they were told it
> would take too many years. Mexico has now gone to the extreme of
> attempting to force mergers within their already limited telecom sector,
> solely to secure commercial funding for an advanced broadband
> backbone... they're promising in a not too subtle process that the final
> commercial entities will receive effective control of the Mexican
> Internet. Has anyone read the OECD report on the Mexican telecom
> industry? Shudder!
>
> I am not concerned with commercial opportunity, but I can safely promise
> that if the system is built as planned it will not provide service at a
> cost affordable to even half of the population. It will not, cannot,
> attain universal access to a minimum set of IP communications
> applications, not being designed for this purpose. The Mexican
> government continues to claim public/private partnerships don't have
> access to funding, and so has determined not to provide these with
> support, nor spectrum.
>
> Interestingly, a sustainable initiative, requiring strong support by
> state and municipal governments, can expand beyond borders.
>
> Let's all of us work together to create at least ONE public/private
> partnership Internet infrastructure intiative, and build ONE
> proof-of-concept non-profit wireless local-loop network. There are a
> small but sufficient quantity of commercial ICT organizations, inventors
> of technologies, who are neither affiliated with nor cowed by the
> telecoms. We're already working with some.
>
> Create a chorus and the song is better heard. You can start by joining
> and confirming your support for an infrastructure initiative. There
> will continue to be a divide as long as government policy forces
> reliance on monolithic commercial oligarchies. Due to the dearth of
> wealth, and cultural and legal differences within most developing
> markets, there needs to be a multi-layered infrastructure where networks
> are designed to and for the particular class of IP applications.
> Inter-operability between networks has eliminated any technical
> disadvantage and can provide real cost-saving solutions, without harming
> commercial incumbents.
>
> You can solve the divide by investing... LESS.
>
> Alan Levy
> Mexico, D.F.
> refconstandard@yahoo.com
>
> =====
> Iustum et tenacem propositi virum
> si fractus inlabatur orbis
> impavidum ferient ruinae
>
>
>
>
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