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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Sept 8, 2013 12:44:13 GMT -6
Some people say our City not owning a utility limits our development. Many communities are investing in their future with municipally owned fiber optic networks; a simple search will reveal many examples. Strands could be leased to generate income from many different providers of different services to help off-set costs and provide more competitive choices to the end users than if controlled by a private entity. Some people say that a private company will be putting a network in some day, but when? How long has Ottawa had 4G service, 2 years? When will it finally be in Streator? In my opinion, a fiber optic network will work the same way with private companies, we will be years and years behind places like Ottawa. I think that a municipal fiber optic network is a good example of an infrastructure improvement that could be considered for attracting more jobs and growth here, an investment in our future that could give us a good edge over other nearby communities. Speed and connectivity to global markets is the way of the future. Here is some information from others on it: According to a 2011 survey of building owners and property managers, broadband access is one of the most important decision factors for commercial real estate siting—after price, parking, and location. Similarly, a national survey found that 77 percent of economic development professionals believe that to attract a new business, a community must have broadband of at least 100 Mbps; in other words, they believe that economic development without broadband is essentially inconceivable.
The high speeds that fiber provides can facilitate economic development by: • Enabling job creation and the enhanced, multiplied economic activity that accompanies it • Supporting businesses with very high bandwidth needs, such as digital media and software development • Attracting and retaining businesses of all sizes • Enabling workforce education • Enabling telework and distributed work • Stimulating economic activity • Promoting major development initiatives such as revitalization zones A number of studies show a significant positive effect on economic growth by the increase of broadband speeds.
Economic development and the ability to attract and maintain first-class companies will be the key ingredient to a municipality's ability to thrive and even survive in this 21st century global economy. Obsolete network infrastructures will help companies make a quick decision to pass over your community and you will get lost in the shuffle.
www.ctcnet.us/HollySprings.pdf huntleyfirst.com/fiberoptics.cfm
As I said in Business 2.0 back in Dec. 2004, the old real estate adage of "location, location, location" has to be updated to "location, location, connectivity". If you don't believe that, just check out Jacksonville. wtnnews.com/articles/3180/
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Post by fishman on Sept 8, 2013 13:47:31 GMT -6
Boy that would be cool a city with 'whisht' doors... I agree with some of what you say Masked Man, but how long is it taking or did it take Streator to pay for the club house at Anderson, and did it do as it was supposed to and increase revenue there..... The band shell is pleasing to look at but what kind of return on investment will it yield... It seems with these projects they didn't look at things as maybe they should have, and who gets to pay for them.......
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Post by chevypower on Sept 8, 2013 14:01:29 GMT -6
Look at all the socialist countries/cities they all have very nice surroundings....... but the private person has nothing so to say, high taxes will get us there to that point and that is their game plan.
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Sept 8, 2013 14:16:50 GMT -6
It is proven technology that is being accepted sought out.
I have read about it paying for itself, producing revenue, and spurring economic development in other communities.
It is going to be part of our future.
Will it be just another private utility here?
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Post by OutlawwithaSnipeSniper on Sept 8, 2013 14:59:15 GMT -6
So we need INTERNET to produce jobs?
Golly, how are we ( Employers ) able to run as fast Internet and Intranet as anywhere else in the world?
Instead of thinking of the next government financed boondoggle, how about we take care of the real limiting factors, chiefly the COST of doing business and the oppressive ( and idiotic ) legislative actions of this STATE?
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Sept 8, 2013 15:22:31 GMT -6
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Post by OutlawwithaSnipeSniper on Sept 8, 2013 18:02:06 GMT -6
Well, our traffic runs from Streator, to Tampa, Fla, to Europe, and back via. the same path, and I stream multiple videos at once........ Unless you are gonna start doing nuclear calculations in Streator, I can't see the current connectivity being a real issue.
To me, it is yet another hand wringing excuse to keep us from focusing on real issues holding us back.
Of course, now that the good residents of Illinois can become FELONS for throwing a cigarette butt on the ground, I am sure it will all work out........... And yea, that was sarcastic as hell, I'm not in a real charitable mood towards the flippin IDIOTS that we allow in office.
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Post by greekgod on Sept 8, 2013 19:36:02 GMT -6
Kyle,
You might want to do a little research on how the City of Batavia, Ill. and many other communties are fairing after investing in Prairie State Coal Plant in Illinois
The article was in the Chicago Tribune last week.
Investing also has a risk of losing also, doesn't it?
I'm in agreement with Sniper on this.
Unless you definately know of a particular Company that is looking at Streator as a potential location when we upgrade our fiber optics infrastructure to accommodate their needs.
Do you know of any such company?
Care to share the name of the company?
g
I'm in agreement
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Post by dog on Sept 8, 2013 20:25:42 GMT -6
Kyle, You might want to do a little research on how the City of Batavia, Ill. and many other communties are fairing after investing in Prairie State Coal Plant in Illinois The article was in the Chicago Tribune last week. Investing also has a risk of losing also, doesn't it? I'm in agreement with Sniper on this. Unless you definately know of a particular Company that is looking at Streator as a potential location when we upgrade our fiber optics infrastructure to accommodate their needs. Do you know of any such company? Care to share the name of the company? g I'm in agreement Me too
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Sept 8, 2013 22:36:27 GMT -6
Kyle, You might want to do a little research on how the City of Batavia, Ill. and many other communties are fairing after investing in Prairie State Coal Plant in Illinois The article was in the Chicago Tribune last week. Investing also has a risk of losing also, doesn't it? I'm in agreement with Sniper on this. Unless you definately know of a particular Company that is looking at Streator as a potential location when we upgrade our fiber optics infrastructure to accommodate their needs. Do you know of any such company? Care to share the name of the company? g I'm in agreement Sounds to me like Peabody took some cities for a ride with their proposed $2 billion project that ended up costing $5 billion. it will be interesting to see the results of the SEC's investigation. There is a big difference between investing in local infrastructure and investing in a regional power plant serving cities in eight states. I think comparing it to a city putting in their own water distribution network would be more appropriate. I'm sure we could find a few success stories for municipally owned water distribution networks. There are advantages to having municipally owned utilities; they usually end up paying back more than the initial investment. You want me to name a company that would be willing to wait for us to construct a fiber optic network to come here? I don't think we'd ever find that. Broadband connectivity would make us a possible location for many more businesses though. A fiber optic network would be too progressive an idea for our current administration to even consider. We'll just keep spending our money on amenities like clubhouses and band shells, with little economic returns.
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Post by oldtimer on Sept 9, 2013 6:39:55 GMT -6
Some people say our City not owning a utility limits our development. Many communities are investing in their future with municipally owned fiber optic networks; a simple search will reveal many examples. Strands could be leased to generate income from many different providers of different services to help off-set costs and provide more competitive choices to the end users than if controlled by a private entity. Some people say that a private company will be putting a network in some day, but when? How long has Ottawa had 4G service, 2 years? When will it finally be in Streator? In my opinion, a fiber optic network will work the same way with private companies, we will be years and years behind places like Ottawa. I think that a municipal fiber optic network is a good example of an infrastructure improvement that could be considered for attracting more jobs and growth here, an investment in our future that could give us a good edge over other nearby communities. Speed and connectivity to global markets is the way of the future. Here is some information from others on it: You're barking up the wrong tree if you think a fiber optic network is going to create jobs in streator. You mention Ottawa already being ahead of streator because of 4g capability. How many jobs has Ottawa created since adding the 4g compared to streator? I think streator has added more jobs over that period so put your Ottawa theory to rest. Streator needs to focus on what it offers that is unique. For instance, just outside of town by us foods is a railroad switcher that takes most train traffic east of the Mississippi river to the western side of the river. That's a lot of train traffic and something unique that streator needs to capitalize on. We don't have a major highway, we don't have a major waterway, but we do have a major train hub. City leaders need to figure out how to attract business through that hub!!
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Sept 9, 2013 6:52:03 GMT -6
I never said that 4G attracts jobs, it was an example of how waiting for the private free market to supply the network that could bring jobs would have us waiting until after more economically viable communities.
I am all for using the railroad hub to attract jobs, when will that be? Are our City leaders even working on that?
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Post by oldtimer on Sept 9, 2013 7:23:54 GMT -6
I never said that 4G attracts jobs, it was an example of how waiting for the private free market to supply the network that could bring jobs would have us waiting until after more economically viable communities. I am all for using the railroad hub to attract jobs, when will that be? Are our City leaders even working on that? Streator will get that 4G eventually. So what? Every community across the country will have it eventually. What every community doesn't have is a major railway hub! Get on it city leaders! It seems like that hub would be an area for some BIG warehouses that will need workers! How about a manufacturing company that could get it's stuff out quickly through that hub. We're not that far from a major interstate(s) so couple the train hub with major interstate(s) nearby. We have to play on our strengths and that railroad hub is a very solid strength!!
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Post by super on Sept 9, 2013 7:50:21 GMT -6
not much left out there business wise, maybe retail and service industry could be attracted? everyone has spare office / warehouse space available in just about every town if you build it, they may not come I've always wanted to own and run a railroad though, who's with me?
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Post by Lucky1 on Sept 9, 2013 8:22:15 GMT -6
I don't think we have any chance of the railroads making us a hub or the warehouses locating here. There is a huge rail yard in Joliet. I went on a tour through the yard and there is a lot of land for expansion there and land for warehouses to build. There is so much land along side I55 and I80 that I would think that they would choose those locations instead of coming all the way out here. With the price of gas it is important to try to stay closer to the interstates.
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