Local forums to implement high-speed networks (broadband); proposal open for votes

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Andy Oram <andyo () oreilly com>
Date: May 24, 2009 9:05:24 AM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Local forums to implement high-speed networks (broadband);  
proposal open for votes

The Obama Administration asks: "How can we strengthen our democracy
and promote efficiency and effectiveness by making government more
transparent, participatory, and collaborative?"

 http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/05/21/Opening/

And they've recently opened a site for ideas:

 http://opengov.ideascale.com/

My "Local forums to implement high-speed networks (broadband)"
proposal can be voted on here:

 http://ideascale.com/r/2932-4049

Because it's poorly formatted, though, you should read it on my blog:

 http://radar.oreilly.com/2009/05/local-forums-to-implement-high.html

I'm hoping people will spread the news of the proposal, regardless of
whether they vote for it. Both the government site and the blog site
accept comments, too.

Here are a few highlights:

High-speed digital networking (also known as "broadband") should
concern open government advocates in two ways.

First, one of the Administration's major goals is to bring high-speed
networking to every resident of the country.

Second, this goal is fundamental to the other goals in the Memorandum
on Transparency and Open Government. Members of the public need
continuous access to the Internet and the ability to handle video and
sophisticated graphical displays in order to make full use of the
resources provided in open government efforts.

All networking is (on one level) local. Given the limited resources
available for any network deployment, and the trade-offs that must be
made during plans, decision-makers need to take into account local
demographics, geography, topology, social and economic priorities, and
existing facilities.

Local collaboration to promote network penetration can also build
bonds that support local communities in other ways. The global reach
of the Internet has long been stressed, but the role of digital
networks in connecting people within geographical communities and
improving their way of life may be even more important and is
beginning to be recognized.

--
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Andy Oram  O'Reilly Media                     email: andyo () oreilly com
Editor     10 Fawcett Street, Fourth Floor         voice: 617-499-7479
          Cambridge, MA 02138-1175, USA             fax: 617-661-1116
          identi.ca/twitter:praxagora http://www.praxagora.com/andyo/
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