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Oops -- somehow Garth Graham diappeared from the list of participants.<br>
<br>
Marita<br>
<br>
-------- Original Message --------
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<th nowrap="nowrap" align="RIGHT" valign="BASELINE">Subject: </th>
<td>[Advisors] Notes fromFeb. 11 mtg re: TC and community
broadband</td>
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<th nowrap="nowrap" align="RIGHT" valign="BASELINE">Date: </th>
<td>Thu, 12 Feb 2015 08:49:33 -0500</td>
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<th nowrap="nowrap" align="RIGHT" valign="BASELINE">From: </th>
<td>Marita Moll <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:mmoll@ca.inter.net"><mmoll@ca.inter.net></a></td>
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<th nowrap="nowrap" align="RIGHT" valign="BASELINE">To: </th>
<td>TC Advisors <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:advisors@tc.ca"><advisors@tc.ca></a></td>
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<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><span
lang="en-US">Report
on meeting re: TC role in advocacy for community broadband -- Feb.
11, 2005</span></font></font></font>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 0; orphans: 0;"
align="LEFT"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font
size="3"><span lang="en-US">Present:<br>
Anthony
Niiganii, Clarice
Leader, Elizabeth
Wilson, Michael
Gurstein, James
Van Leeuwen, Marita
Moll</span></font></font></font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 0; orphans: 0;"
align="LEFT">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><span
lang="en-US">Co-ordinating
and reporting: Marita Moll</span></font></font></font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 0; orphans: 0;"
align="LEFT">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><span
lang="en-US">James
provided a brief overview of the community broadband movement in the
U.S. and the fact that the movement has gained such credibility that
President Obama promoted community broadband in his recent speech in
Cedar Falls, Iowa which (with federal assistance) has built a
thriving community owned broadband network
(<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.kcrg.com/subject/news/government/text-president-obamas-speech-in-cedar-falls-20150114">http://www.kcrg.com/subject/news/government/text-president-obamas-speech-in-cedar-falls-20150114</a>)
.
In
the U.S., community broadband has an extensive profile with
organizations, websites, print materials, regional and national
events, etc. working to enhance its visibility (e.g. Broadband
Communities Magazine, Fibre to the Home Council). Because it is being
promoted as a key economic driver, it has been seen as politically
beneficial for governments and regulators in the U.S. to be
supportive. James has attended a number of events in the U.S. and has
spoken with advocates and organizations there who would like to help
bring some of this information to Canada by way of a conference
either in Toronto or Vancouver. </span></font></font></font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 0; orphans: 0;"
align="LEFT">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><span
lang="en-US">The
situation in Canada is very different. Although there are successful
community owned broadband networks, as an issue it is barely on the
radar. But, with the recent success in the U.S., this should be a
good time to ramp up advocacy in Canada. There is no clear leader
emerging at a national level to take on the role of aggregating
interest on this topic. TC could play an important role in taking up
the challenge. </span></font></font></font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 0; orphans: 0;"
align="LEFT">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><span
lang="en-US">A
lively discussion ensued regarding the nature of the population
served by such networks, the infrastructure used, the options for
communities who are seeking better connectivity, examples of Canadian
communities who have embraced the concept (Coquitlam), and the need
for a public perspective on services/ownership/benefits of such a
network. Although private interests are necessarily involved in the
building of community owned broadband systems, in the end, private
companies are about wealth extraction not wealth creation. This is a
message that community leaders need to hear more often.</span></font></font></font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 0; orphans: 0;"
align="LEFT">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><span
lang="en-US">In
order to move the agenda ahead, the following activities are
suggested:</span></font></font></font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 0; orphans: 0;"
align="LEFT">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><span
lang="en-US">1. Survey of TC members on the meaning of broadband in
the context of
their communities/ province. Examples of such systems in place or
underway.</span></font></font></font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 0; orphans: 0;"
align="LEFT">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><span
lang="en-US">2.
Develop an inventory of interested persons/organizations.</span></font></font></font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 0; orphans: 0;"
align="LEFT">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><span
lang="en-US">3.
Start a space on the TC website to contain information on community
broadband </span></font></font></font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 0; orphans: 0;"
align="LEFT">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><span
lang="en-US">4.
Reinforce TC's mandate to include community broadband issues as an
area of interest.</span></font></font></font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 0; orphans: 0;"
align="LEFT">
Marita<br>
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