Yesterday, June 26, the RTC hosted an open meeting to review the status and plans and concerns related to Federal stimulus money and  potential proposals to improve the broadband infrastructure for our region. We plan to continue these meetings and also plan to offer this blog as a means of disseminating information and encouraging conversation on this and other matters of interest. Board members took notes at the meeting. Feel free to comment.Notes from Public Broadband Meeting
June 25, 2009

Notes

This meeting was for the public and was promoted on the RTC website and listserv, on KHSU’s community calendar and on KHSU’s Home Page show.

ATTENDEES
(Name - email - affiliation)
 
Daria Topousis - dariat [at] suddenlink [dot] net - RTC
John Woolley - John [dot] wooley [at] asm [dot] ca [dot] gov - Assembleyman Chesbro
Eric Fimbres - eric [at] communityhealthyalliance [dot] org - Community Health Alliance
A. Dominic Efferson - dominic [at] accesshumboldt [dot] net - Intern at Access Humboldt
Sean McLaughlin - sean [at] accesshumboldt [dot] net - Access Humboldt
Mary Cruse - merrycruiser [at] gmail [dot] com - RTC & Film Commission
Jan Kraeplien - jankrpln [at] humboldt1 [dot] com - RTC/Arcata
Michael Kraft - kraft [at] northcoastsbdc [dot] org - SBDC
Fred Shinnick - shinchip [at] suddenlink [dot] net - RTC
Robert Stretton - rbse [at] yahoo [dot] com - none stated
Seth Johannessen - seth [at] 101netlink [dot] com - RTC/101 Netlink
Zuey Goosby - zurettie [dot] goosby [at] sen [dot] ca [dot] gov - Sen. Pat Wiggins
Mike Ireton - mike [at] ruralbroadband [dot] com - RTC
Scott Joachim - scott [at] bearrivertribe [dot] com - RTC/Bear River Band
Larry Goldberg - larry [at] northcoast [dot] com - RTC
Kathy Moxon - kathym [at] hafoundation [dot] org - RCRA
David Weston - globalview [at] me [dot] com - Village Keepers.org
Rick Blanchard
Bob Morse
media guy from A/H

• Intro – Michael
• Process to date – Kathy
• Sean: “moving blades” of state involvement…don’t
• Kathy: sustainability
• Scott: Bear River finding it for complicated.  With stimulus funds, they took a simpler project and looked to expanding it.  Considered joining 4-county application but is now working with other Indian tribes to put in a joint application.
• Sean: consistent observation that projects that bring together multiple jurisdictions, interests, solve multiple problems that those applications will be stronger.  RCC positions RCRA & this region as creative, effective in coordinating jurisdictions.  Access Humboldt is joining that effort.
• Kathy: Reality is anyone can apply.  Redwood Coast was the first rural area to attempt to wrap several pieces together and have a cohesive storyincreasing (we think) our visibility and competitiveness.
• Jan: confident a unified proposal is best, along the lines of prop 50, but put the question forward: is a unified proposal the best?
• Bob: where are we on putting the four counties together?
• Kathy: 4 counties want to do it.  In real terms, we are gathering the proposed projects, asking whether folks are interested in cooperating, are the projects viable, do they provide public goods, do they have business plans…across the 4-county region, pulling together a governance group, attempting to pave the way for permitting processes.  We are well-positioned in the state as the front-running rural region of California.  We’re building relationships with consultants who have expertise and connections in DC.  We’re looking at options for applicants.
• Mike:  How much of the work involves Mendocino?  How does my company get involved, and why aren’t we getting engaged?  Want to work on 70/10/10 thing.
• Kathy: working through projects.  
• Jan: get the governments together first…like cable franchise issues in Humboldt.  We can collect projects and it’s easier to chop things off than add them at the last minute.
• Michael asked Sean to describe 70/10/10/10 and for input from the group: deployment, adoption & a.  Fiber middle mile is critical: 70%.  10% wireless middle mile.  10% last mile.  10% demand & adoption.  Although the percentages might change, there was total agreement to do all of these elements.
• Timeline: rules expected around July 1.  There may not be a comment period and the turnaround from rules to grant app is rumored to be 45 days.  There will be an emphasis on business plans & private/public partnerships.  They want ongoing job creation.  We need to create a story economic growth, healthcare, education, public safety and civic participation.  We need to give serious thought to metrics.  We heard today from a consultant that NTIA is expecting 1000 applications for $4.2 billion.  38 states have asked to be able to prioritize the projects in their states.  California will put up 10% through CASF.  (ARRA funds are 80%, with a “required” 20% match; there is a provision from a waiver from the match.  In kind match is also up in the air.)  We are trying to anticipate the rules.  There may be a provision to report increases in public good as matching funds.
• Don't know what will count for in kind.
• Scope is Mendo, Hum, Trinity, Del Norte and maybe creep into Sonoma (Sea Ranch), right around Siskiyou.  (Siskiyoutel). 
• Some cooperation with Mendo and Lake?  Miek Ireton: we have to have cards on table.
• Regular communications weekly or biweekly.
• RTC can take on communications role.
• RTC define criteria for how to look at projects?
• Jan: county governments
• Concern about state ego--states want their share.
• Recession 20 years ago--money came down really fast and defaulted to existing systems.  Will default to tradiitonal definitoins of in-kind, etc.
• Need contingency and be flexible.
• Need support from state representatives to champion what we're proposing. 
• Most of the county will be seen as rural (other than Eureka), and that might be of benefit.
• Worthwhile to team up with other counties like Yolo, Solano, etc.?  May make it difficult.
• Benefited from our state reps and assemblymen. 
• CA state clearinghouse used to exist to respond to fed money coming in to ensure states would have some control over how fed money came to state and got distributed.  Any fed grant a copy had to be submitted to state clearinghouse.  Will state want a piece now?  Could happen any time.
• Meet again around mid-July so people can read
• Let's use videoconferencing to link in with other counties. 
• Assemblyman pleased that regional efforts are underway (John W).  Better understanding of region and businesses that can support it. So if we don't get funding this time, it puts us in a good position for next time. 
• Rural counties organization--stay in contact with them. (John)  One rule fits all is problem in rural areas.  Policies for rural areas.  We have contacts with committees that can help. 
• Build in connection with Lake County!
• Microtrenching test happening in Sac next week.  Their biggest concern (Transport Committee) is liability. 
• CENIC have more than just 299 counting on microtrenching getting permitted.  Supportive.
• CBS--life in debt. 
• Board of Sups--Mark Lovelace is interested.  Where are others in process?  We should do some education to bring up to speed.  Larry suggests broadband task force. 
• Information element of general plan--strong info element. 
• Schools, health and libraries broadband coalition (Sean knows).  Must look at anchor institutions in communities as public benefit--they need fast connection!  Sean has info if anyone wants it.  Active in DC.  Sean is getting notes.
• Feedback Sean hears: we are at high level of sophistication wrt working together (in comparison to other parts of country). 
• Mendo has broadband place on FB.