Well said Denise.
I'm a freelance writer, and lost an important new client solely because I
failed to meet my deadline. This was due solely to the town internet being down
over a weekend I intended to work.
That was bad enough, but I also had to give up writing my column because our
service is so unpredictable and lousy. Cranking out a new column every day
became impossible.
I've lost a lot of income, a job I loved, and the prevailing attitude is I
should be grateful we get any internet service at all.
Thanks!
Kathy Padden
-----Original Message-----
From: Denyse Dar <denyse@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: WarwickList <WarwickList@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thu, Apr 28, 2016 10:31 am
Subject: [The-L] town internet access / impacts
I'm actually with Steve on this. A discussion with Time Warner is absolutely
warranted first. If they have to increase their customer base and wire is
already here to a degree then it's a solution that is quicker than WiredWest
and represents zero loans or money out of pocket. So why wouldn't we make a
discussion with Time Warner the number one priority? The Broadband upgrade
isn't time sensitive. We don't lose anything by putting it on a back burner
until we have a solid answer.
I do not support ANY loans in any municipal capacity at this point. We have a
disproportionately high number of Baby Boomers in this town with no new
families moving in. Our median age as reported by the 2010 census puts us
currently around 64.5 years old. So every decision we make right now needs to
be with the understanding that we face a VERY large population change within 10
years. Which means a drastic change in finances. We are going to have
considerable trouble meeting our operational costs never mind meeting loan
obligations bearing interest. Borrowing is a financially irresponsible thing to
do at this time - particularly for Broadband. The Broadband customer base IS
the Warwick population and when that population declines dramatically, so too
do Broadband customers. It may be making money at the moment but will it with
half the customers? Those numbers need to be projected before any conversation
about a loan should take place because this "plan" is being hatched based on
who and what we have today - not tomorrow when the loan payments are due.
In addition, fiber optic offers something Broadband can't. It still functions
when power outages occur. That's kind of important out here where power
lines/stations are antiquated and power outages a way of life. Anyone with a
generator could continue to communicate and telecommute. I have no clue how
many people are aware but it's common knowledge in the science community and
government that we are currently going through a geomagnetic pole reversal. The
government and utility companies have made preparations for the grid going down
as a result of a huge electromagnetic surge. At the turn of the century,
telegraph's exploded on fire as a result of a large solar flare so they know
reasonably well the effects of such a surge. (We're not even talking about what
it would do to our Broadband towers and equipment.) It's the reason the solar
incentives are so intense. Our solar homes are intended to feed our local grids
for basic operation in such an event. So the proactive thing to do at this
stage is follow their lead and invest in technologies that are not electrically
dependent. That way if something happens, we can still function. If nothing
happens then no harm, no foul.
Lastly, I had Broadband. It couldn't possibly have stunk more if it tried. This
was a town wide effort that should have been a town wide solution which means
it should ensure EVERY resident has similar access, similar speeds and similar
service; not for some, or most..but ALL. But we're not even talking about
putting in equipment and making the necessary edits to ensure equitable access.
We're mainly talking about faster speeds for the folks who already have good
service. And the fact that people in town with a decent connection show zero
concern for those who don't - is pretty selfish and hostile. I know none of the
empty nesters care but our school district has all their homework remotely done
via Google Drive. Access impacts my kids' education and grades. And I make my
living selling my work online and via marketing. No access means we don't eat.
But that's not your problem..you have Internet and you don't have kids and
you've already worked your whole life for what you have so who cares about the
folks trying to make a go of it here. What really matters is how much tax
you're paying for my kid to go to school now that yours are grown and you're on
a fixed income. Cmon!
denyse dar
Painting the world happy!
www.denysedar.com
denyse dar
Painting the world happy!
www.denysedar.com
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