I owe thanks to Dr. Chris Johnson, President of AzTEA, for bringing this opportunity to serve, to the attention of the AzTEA leadership. I am delighted to join ATIC as an Associate and Representative for K-12 and rural community interests and concerns. I would like to extend my thanks to include the following people for welcoming me:
Ted Kraver (Az eLearning), Mark Goldstein (President IRC), Oris Friesen and Ron Schott – ATIC Chairman
ATIC Website: http://www.arizonatele.com/atic/
Upcoming Debates – Corporation Commission
The Corporation Commission is the responsible entity for deciding many issues that may directly or indirectly relate to connectivity, and other technological issues across the state of Arizona. In turn, decisions may directly or indirectly impact what businesses, districts and communities are doing with regard to access, costs…
There are 3 seats open on the Corporation Commission and ATIC (Arizona Telecommunciations & Information Council), is again hosting candidate debates along with the support of CCEC (AZ Citizens for Clean Elections Campaign).
Candidates: There are 4 Democratic and 8 Republican candidates.
Mark your calendar:
Debates – All candidate
July 15th: Morning - Democratic candidates; Afternoon: Republican candidates
Meeting will also be presented via webcast and over cable
Debate – General Election Debates
September 15th: 3 winners from each party will debate
Debates will be held at Rio Salado College, Tempe
Today I have joined the phone conference of the last Public Meeting of ATIC for this current year and look forward to attending the July Board Meeting. As a longtime resident of Maricopa, I am delighted to report that in this public meeting ATIC celebrated success (presented by Roz Boxer – AZ Department of Commerce and Lisa Bergeron – Pinal County) of helping the City of Maricopa in obtaining a $250,000 grant.
This grant will provide technical assistance and broadband, to the city, with a goal date for end of 2009. Gila River Indian Community and Ak-Chin were acknowledged as important community partners and supporters.
Also presented was a compelling reflection on the success of Superior and connectivity ‘revitalizing mining communities’ and shared that the system or model that has been developed can be emulated in other communities and circumstances.
There are many other amazing discussions and presentations happening as I am typing this commentary. My personal interest rests in EQUITY, social equity. Broadband access is fast becoming an economic and social thick line, drawn in the proverbial sand.
Pew Research has a vast body of work as part of their Pew Internet & American Life Project. Research shows that communities with dial-up or no access are at a societal disadvantage. This extends to the home, the school, business opportunities, ability for communities to market themselves, for communities and their members to remain current and competitive … This is an interwoven system, if any of these ’spokes’ are improved or robust, the expectation is that other sectors of a community will be positively influenced.
I live in a community that – only in recent years – obtained high-speed broadband. I lived remotely where there was NO connectivity, nor option (aside from costly satellite) and, more recently, in a suburban area with high-speed access. Pew poses an interesting argument – the extra cost or lack of accessibility can be prohibitive and thus creates an additional stressor to economic and social advancement in a 21st Century economy.
I am interested in advocating for undeserved populations – for me this includes 2 areas of my life: (1) equity in internet access, specifically for the benefit of P-20 education and (2) advocacy for special needs students. I am a member of the AzTEA ‘Advocacy and Public Policy Committee’ and I have a personal expectation that my growing advocacy abilities will support my own special needs student, my school district, my city and my state.
I look forward to being involved with this amazing group of visionaries who are acting on their visions. I have much to read, much to learn and much to consider but, if you know me at all, when you read the ATIC MISSION, you will easily recognize why I am so pleased to be involved!
Other names to know:
