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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Sept 19, 2013 23:28:31 GMT -6
I really couldn't imagine something like this even being started without first looking into all aspects of it, consulting experts, etc.
Of course I don't have all the answers, but from what I've read, I feel it should be explored.
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Sept 20, 2013 12:33:30 GMT -6
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Post by helencrump on Sept 20, 2013 15:51:29 GMT -6
I do hope the council looks into this. When it's put on the ballot....and people vote to implement a multimillion dollar endeavour, what then? We've had some good opportunities voted down in the past.
This does sound like a good move, if well planned. Hopefully everyone is open minded. Hopefully there is a lot of research done, and not just written off without digging deep into the subject.
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Post by dog on Sept 20, 2013 18:10:51 GMT -6
Interesting article. I agree that as a nation, in a global economy, this country needs to have superior bandwidth capability. I see most of these places who are going forward with plans for fiber networks are places with much, much larger populations than Streator, and also have many more things to offer than Streator. Kyle do you have any info of any towns the size of Streator that are pursuing the installation of a fiber network and making it a municipality-owned utility?
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Sept 20, 2013 18:12:57 GMT -6
I doubt that it will really get proper consideration. I don't doubt that a couple may look into it though.
A majority of the council is still the same and like I've said before, from my experience attending many meetings, I don't think they are very progressive thinking.
I spoke to them on Wednesday about the advantages of a municipally owned network and the economic development it could provide.
When I finished, the only comment was Mr. Hart suggesting that I should join SACCI to bring economic development.
I'm still trying to figure out if he thinks that SACCI could provide a municipally owned network or if that was his way of telling me to just not expect our City to do anything.
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Post by dog on Sept 20, 2013 18:29:00 GMT -6
I doubt that it will really get proper consideration. I don't doubt that a couple may look into it though. A majority of the council is still the same and like I've said before, from my experience attending many meetings, I don't think they are very progressive thinking. I spoke to them on Wednesday about the advantages of a municipally owned network and the economic development it could provide. When I finished, the only comment was Mr. Hart suggesting that I should join SACCI to bring economic development. I'm still trying to figure out if he thinks that SACCI could provide a municipally owned network or if that was his way of telling me to just not expect our City to do anything. The council needs to be a little more progressive, but you have to be a little more realistic. I think a little research will find that it is not cost effective to create a municipality-owned fiber network in Streator. When you spoke with the council, did you show them more than just the articles you linked here? Did you give them examples of economic growth in cities that are similar to Streator, after fiber networks have been installed? Did you give examples of same-sized municipalities that have either started actual building or have plans to build fiber networks?
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Sept 20, 2013 18:59:14 GMT -6
dog, there is only three minutes to speak at a council meeting. I agree that it is not enough time to talk about an issue like this, but that is all the time they feel they can afford to give to citizens wanting to speak. There is a lot of information about it available to them on line, and I let them know of a conference in Tinley Park geared toward municipal leaders where they can get more information. I think it would be better for them to get the detailed information directly than through me. Chanute Kansas population 9,119 www.muninetworks.org/reports/chanutes-gig-rural-kansas-network-built-without-borrowingChanute's Gig: Rural Kansas Network Built Without Borrowing The Institute for Local Self-Reliance has just released a new case study on community broadband -- this one examines how Chanute, Kansas, built its own broadband network over a period of many years without borrowing. Local businesses are strong supporters of the network. From Ash Grove Cement to MagnaTech, business clients have remained satisfied subscribers. The network continues to encourage economic development and provides connectivity options that attract high bandwidth employers. The network generates $600,000 per year for Chanute’s Electric Utility, 5 percent of which goes to the general fund as a franchising fee each year. There are many more examples I could provide.
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Post by hawk on Sept 20, 2013 21:12:13 GMT -6
dog, there is only three minutes to speak at a council meeting. I agree that it is not enough time to talk about an issue like this, but that is all the time they feel they can afford to give to citizens wanting to speak. There is a lot of information about it available to them on line, and I let them know of a conference in Tinley Park geared toward municipal leaders where they can get more information. I think it would be better for them to get the detailed information directly than through me. Chanute Kansas population 9,119 www.muninetworks.org/reports/chanutes-gig-rural-kansas-network-built-without-borrowingChanute's Gig: Rural Kansas Network Built Without Borrowing The Institute for Local Self-Reliance has just released a new case study on community broadband -- this one examines how Chanute, Kansas, built its own broadband network over a period of many years without borrowing. Local businesses are strong supporters of the network. From Ash Grove Cement to MagnaTech, business clients have remained satisfied subscribers. The network continues to encourage economic development and provides connectivity options that attract high bandwidth employers. The network generates $600,000 per year for Chanute’s Electric Utility, 5 percent of which goes to the general fund as a franchising fee each year. There are many more examples I could provide. "there is only three minutes to speak at a council meeting. I agree that it is not enough time to talk about an issue like this, but that is all the time they feel they can afford to give to citizens wanting to speak." Do you get to the point or do you ramble and go on tangents like you do on here? "There is a lot of information about it available to them on line, and I let them know of a conference in Tinley Park geared toward municipal leaders where they can get more information." How do you know they haven't looked into it or that they hadnt received a noticed about the conference before you brought it to their attention. "I think it would be better for them to get the detailed information directly than through me." They probably feel the same way. Chanute Kansas broadband How long did it take them to finally generate $600,000?
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Post by helencrump on Sept 20, 2013 21:22:38 GMT -6
Doesnt the council work with sacci? Maybe you should take their suggestion. Maybe that's why they suggested it. Once again, they head you in a direction, you don't like it, so you turn it around to 'they ignore' you, etc.
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Sept 20, 2013 22:30:00 GMT -6
. Do you get to the point or do you ramble and go on tangents like you do on here? I'm sorry if you don't like my tangents on here, feel free to skip reading them. I doubt that even the best public speakers would be able to provide enough information in three minutes for anyone to make a proper decision on this issue. . How do you know they haven't looked into it or that they hadnt received a noticed about the conference before you brought it to their attention. I don't know and never said that they didn't already know about it. I was just making sure that they did know about it. Is there a problem with me telling them something I want them to know, even if they might already know about it? . Chanute Kansas broadband How long did it take them to finally generate $600,000? ks-chanute.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/1036They began working on it in 1984 for control of their power grid and left it unexpanded for about 20 years, when they started expanding to businesses, I don't think it was until 2011 that they started expanding to residences. As I said before, we wouldn't have to do it all at once, maybe target areas where business could locate & expand to first. I know it would take time before it would generate revenue, but the sooner started, the sooner that could happen.
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Sept 20, 2013 22:59:42 GMT -6
Doesnt the council work with sacci? Maybe you should take their suggestion. Maybe that's why they suggested it. Once again, they head you in a direction, you don't like it, so you turn it around to 'they ignore' you, etc. Helen, this is the way that I see it: SACCI is a private entity, separate from the City. The City donates a small amount to them each year for economic development. Membership dues also help fund their activities, but they don't have anywhere near the resources to do anything like a fiber optic network. As I said before, I think there are advantages to having it be a municipally owned network, instead of a private entity. They don't have resources to do projects like a drainage system for an industrial park either. They just don't have the resources for many of the things that I think should be done. They don't control the taxes that we pay and get spent on $138,000.00 fountains. I am not against joining SACCI, but don't feel that I should have to. I think I should be able to look to my City leaders and ask them to use those tax resources for things that I think could provide more of a return for the community than amenities. I've been ignored a lot, I'm quite used to it. That could be why I keep repeating myself.
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Sept 21, 2013 8:34:41 GMT -6
dog gives me crap for not providing the council certain details.
hawk gives me crap for providing details that they might already know.
Others give me crap for not spending my money with a non-municipal entity to try to get a municipal investment in our future.
Some people will have a problem with just about anything that I have to say.
I will continue to say to my elected officials that control the tax dollars whatever I desire.
I'm sure that people will continue to give me crap for it too.
I'm not complaining, it is the SO way.
I'm just pointing out, why I may come off as rude sometimes.
Sorry if I do, I'm just trying to stand up for what I believe in.
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Sept 22, 2013 12:47:15 GMT -6
How do you know they haven't looked into it or that they hadnt received a noticed about the conference before you brought it to their attention. Actually, I would hope that they all knew about it already. It shouldn't have been the first time that any of them have heard me talk about a municipal fiber optic network. ***Caution: Tangent Alert*** When they were deciding if they should agree to allowing it to be brought into City buildings as part of the grant, there was much discussion and concern about committing to it. I bring it up because I remember thinking at the time that if they understood the benefits of it and were more progressive thinking, they would be very excited about it coming to our community. It was right after that that I first spoke to them about the City looking into expanding it municipally to help attract new employers here. Some council members heard the suggestion of a municipal fiber network expansion in conjunction with my candidate forum earlier this year. I've posted info and a link about the conference on here a couple of times; I told one of them about it in person. It would have been great to hear a comment from any of them that they were already registered, instead the only comment was that I should look to a private entity to bring economic development here. So, do you have some inside information as to how many of them will be attending? dog, since you were interested in a "ground floor investment", will you be going? In an attempt to try to stay positive: At least they didn't say No. It was progressive that ultimately they did allow the grant to bring it to City buildings. I will hope that they do give it the consideration that it deserves.
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Post by hawk on Sept 23, 2013 11:45:18 GMT -6
I give you crap because 1. Unlike Paul Harvey you only give half of the story. It's not until you get called out that you start giving the other details and information (typically important information) about the subject at hand. 2. You make the council seem completely oblivious to everything, out of touch, and unapproachable.
"A majority of the council is still the same and like I've said before, from my experience attending many meetings, I don't think they are very progressive thinking." Explain. Give your definition of progressive, and then follow that up with what is a feasible amount of time. Are they not progressive because they don't follow every suggestion that you give them? What makes you an expert on matters that you bring to them day in and day out that they should say how high when you say jump? How can you expect anyone to take you seriously when giving tautologous statements? In your last entry you say "It was progressive that ultimately they did allow the grant to bring it to City buildings." What? You just said you don't think they are very progressive thinking. Your divergent opinions are really hurting your "experience". Maybe you should take a page from your own book and be a little more progressive. Plant the seed and walk away.
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Sept 23, 2013 21:30:05 GMT -6
I give you crap because 1. Unlike Paul Harvey you only give half of the story. It's not until you get called out that you start giving the other details and information (typically important information) about the subject at hand. 2. You make the council seem completely oblivious to everything, out of touch, and unapproachable. "A majority of the council is still the same and like I've said before, from my experience attending many meetings, I don't think they are very progressive thinking." Explain. Give your definition of progressive, and then follow that up with what is a feasible amount of time. Are they not progressive because they don't follow every suggestion that you give them? What makes you an expert on matters that you bring to them day in and day out that they should say how high when you say jump? How can you expect anyone to take you seriously when giving tautologous statements? In your last entry you say "It was progressive that ultimately they did allow the grant to bring it to City buildings." What? You just said you don't think they are very progressive thinking. Your divergent opinions are really hurting your "experience". Maybe you should take a page from your own book and be a little more progressive. Plant the seed and walk away. 1. As it is, I post a lot of long posts; I can't provide every detail. I don't leave out important information on purpose. What important information did I leave out on fiber optics? dog could have looked to see if it was working in smaller communities before assuming that it wasn't. He was the one that provided the Chatanooga example, not me. 2. I don't think they are completely oblivious about everything, but I do think that some of them are out of touch on many things. I have actually been trying to get more people to approach them. Haven't you seen my posts giving meeting dates and times or City Hall's phone number and e mail address? I have been trying to get more people to be involved because I think there are too many that are just complacent to the problems because they feels so disenfranchised. In my opinion, progressive means looking to advance, creating growth and better conditions, and being accepting of new ideas and technologies. I do not feel that they have been very progressive over all because bringing the jobs that would be needed for growth has not seemed to be a high priority to them and they have not seemed to be accepting of new ideas. These are just my opinions though. I do give them credit for the few good things that I see them do. Sorry if you think it is divergent, but I see it as just being right and don't feel it is hurting my experience. Nothing makes me an expert and I never said I was, or that they had to jump at all. Obviously they don't have to follow the suggestions that I give them, I don't think they have yet. Is that because I've been too tautologous? When someone exposes himself in the middle of the street and I tell them, how many more do I have to watch do it without saying anything for it to ever end? BS is what that is. If they did something about the problems once in a while, I wouldn't have to keep going back to talk about the same things over and over again. Obviously they don't have to jump to my suggestions, so I get to the point of posting videos on line. There sure were right on top of the chicken issue with that special 8:30am meeting though weren't they? I don't think that planting a seed and walking away is a good idea; shouldn't you do what you can to promote its growth as well?
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