Focus Group: Broadband Access
Thanks to all that participated on January 30, 2015 in Marin Economic Forum’s focus group on wireless and fixed broadband internet access. This is a summary of what that focus group came up with on January 30, 2015 on the questions asked. It would be great to get your feedback on the following, and any edits as you see fit:
- What is missing from these goals?
- What are some immediate ways to close in on goal achievement?
For example, on question 2 below, one of the high-level items was “Need for productivity”. It may be good to add to this set additional comments like: especially true in rural health care. Or for question 3, it may be good to add comments like “Survey businesses and understand their needs”. Use your judgment and expertise and let us know if we need more information here to help the public comment be more robust.
We have retained all the information provided by the group on each of the following questions. We did not discuss how to achieve these goals on purpose, as that would have taken a much longer session and the point of these focus groups is to ignite a broader conversation via our blog and social media. Please e-mail any comments to the following e-mail: broadband@marineconomicforum.org
What are four goals of expanding wireless or fixed broadband options specific to West Marin?
1. To improve quality of life for individuals in West Marin;
2. Engaging and improving governmental services;
3. Improve businesses ability to compete;
4. Meets the needs for today and tomorrow.
Why would local businesses need faster-speed wireless or fixed broadband access?
1. All business sectors need broadband access, including telecommuters;
2. Need to keep up with evolving business needs;
3. Need for productivity;
4. Need for broadband to stay competitive.
What are actions or strategies to stimulate expansion of wireless and fixed broadband in Marin County?
1. Engage customers to define their needs;
2. Work as partner with broadband partners instead of taking an adversarial position;
3. Strategies for funding;
4. Provide research/conduct research;
5. Create greater infrastructure.
What can local government do to help expand wireless and fixed broadband as partners?
1. Set Policy Goals;
2. Establish governmental structure;
3. Oversee infrastructure and right of way reform;
4. Regulate cost and incentives;
5. Management of Infrastructure information.
We encourage your comments below!
Chris Stewart
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the life science companies need high band width to communicate large amounts of data easily and quickly to public and private sector partners. The high tech and gaming industries also share this same requirement for high bandwidth internet data transmission. To grow these industries and high paying jobs in Marin the public and private sectors should join forces to bring the highest and best internet infrastructure and access to Marin. It should be among the top three infrastructure priorities for MEF -Transportation, High bandwidth internet access and workforce housing.
Mitra Ardron
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Broadband is a crucial requirement to allow Marin businesses, and telecommuters to participate in the world economy without living in the city. We don’t just need faster broadband we need reliable broadband. Its embarrassing when on calls to rural Africa its *my* internet that goes down. I think part of the goals of Marin Economic Forum’s involvement should be to push for competitive broadband as a monopoly is one sure way to ensure low quality service. I’m particularly concerned that Comcast’s approach to Net Neutrality will ensure continual degradation of services we choose rather than those provided by them.
Laura Bertolli
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I agree with Chris. I have suggested to the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors that high bandwidth internet access should be one of the top goals for the business community. I was in on a meeting back in the early 2000’s when fiber optics was discussed and San Rafael had the opportunity to create this infrastructure. I can’t remember why the idea died, but I’m greatly relieved that this topic is being discussed. The time is NOW for getting wired, Marin!
Alejandro Moreno S.
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I want to remind everyone that business needs PEOPLE, and it needs a tech/internet-literate, empowered, informed people. Businesses start with/by people, businesses grow with people. If all of Marin, not just West, had greater access to broadband – high speed, QUALITY broadband (what good is it if it’s the equivalent of i.e. Sprint cell phone service with “dead spots”) – then the people – students and future employees and entrepreneurs of this region – will be better equipped for business and for life. Business matters, but people matter more, because without people there is no business. People, families, children, students need to be just as much a focus of these broadband efforts as business does, if not more so, because this has to become part of the community culture (in addition to the business culture) in order for the community and for businesses to thrive regionally. This should also include all the recent immigrant communities in our county as well.
Bruce Vogen
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In 2010 former FCC Commissioner Michael Copps told Bill Moyers, “…whether your #1 issue is energy dependence, or climate change, or health insurance, or expanding equal opportunity, this issue of the future of the media and broadband has to be your #2 because on that one depends how your #1 issue gets filtered and funneled to the American people.”
We can no longer afford to leave anyone behind. We should have nothing less than gigabit fiber optic lines to each and every house and business in Marin County delivering broadband connections just as we deliver water, gas, and electricity. And we need it now. Gigabit cities are popping up everywhere and we need to join them.
The cable monopolists had 10 years to give us world class, universal, affordable broadband. The real crime is they didn’t even try. When you operate a business in the public rights-of-way you have a special, historical, and sacred obligation to care for the public trust, as much as you care for your profits. That’s the deal. Information is not a commodity like shoes or golf clubs. It transforms lives and our next generation infrastructure needs to be transformative.
Frank Borodic
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State and Federal policy goals attempt to close the digital divide by seeking to achieve ubiquitous broadband availability at current speeds. That said, Marin Counties 82.9% broadband penetration rate hardly smacks of being underserved. The issue here is not one of a rural urban digital divide, but one of extremely high speed bandwidth enabling the development of a cluster of compatible and competitive interrelated life science businesses.
The increase in speed will also enable Marin’s SME’s to better compete with large enterprises, for they will then have access to the same technologies that only large enterprises now have. The Increased use of mobile devices and cloud-based applications require more bandwidth if SME’s are to lessen the capital expenses of housing everything onsite. In short, increasing high speed bandwidth is economic development at its best.