March 2004 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[ARRL-ODV:10253] Re: FW: Final Analysis
by Joel Harrison 19 Mar '04

19 Mar '04

Final AnalysisI would say that is a good "final analysis" of the matter!!! 73 Joel W5ZN -----Original Message----- From: Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ [mailto:dsumner@arrl.org] Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2004 6:25 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [ARRL-ODV:10252] FW: Final Analysis It took a long time, but justice has finally triumphed over the most unscrupulous of the Little LEO proponents. This makes entertaining reading for anyone who remembers the high-flying days of Final Analysis. It's also a pleasant and timely reminder that we DO win spectrum battles against better-funded opponents. 73, Dave K1ZZ -----Original Message----- From: Rinaldo, Paul Sent: Thu 3/18/2004 10:59 PM To: Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ; Imlay, Chris (ARRL Counsel); Stafford, Rod (Int'l Vice President); Price, Larry (President, IARU) Cc: Subject: Final Analysis Gentlemen, Remember Final Analysis? This is from today's FCC Daily Digest: FINAL ANALYSIS COMMUNICATION SERVICES, INC. Denied the Final Analysis Communication Services, Inc. Milestone Extension Request. Action by: Chief, International Bureau. Adopted: 03/17/2004 by MO&O. (DA No. 04-727). IB <http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-727A1.doc> Paul

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[ARRL-ODV:10252] FW: Final Analysis
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 19 Mar '04

19 Mar '04

It took a long time, but justice has finally triumphed over the most unscrupulous of the Little LEO proponents. This makes entertaining reading for anyone who remembers the high-flying days of Final Analysis. It's also a pleasant and timely reminder that we DO win spectrum battles against better-funded opponents. 73, Dave K1ZZ -----Original Message----- From: Rinaldo, Paul Sent: Thu 3/18/2004 10:59 PM To: Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ; Imlay, Chris (ARRL Counsel); Stafford, Rod (Int'l Vice President); Price, Larry (President, IARU) Cc: Subject: Final Analysis Gentlemen, Remember Final Analysis? This is from today's FCC Daily Digest: FINAL ANALYSIS COMMUNICATION SERVICES, INC. Denied the Final Analysis Communication Services, Inc. Milestone Extension Request. Action by: Chief, International Bureau. Adopted: 03/17/2004 by MO&O. (DA No. 04-727). IB <http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-727A1.doc> Paul

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[ARRL-ODV:10251] Comment deadline for BPL NPRM
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 18 Mar '04

18 Mar '04

The comment deadline for the FCC BPL NPRM is May 3, for reply comments June 1. A story about how to file comments just went up at the top of the ARRL Wen news crawl: http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/03/18/100/?nc=1. The strategy discussed in the story follows the lead of the "Why is the ARRL Concerned About the FCC's NPRM on BPL?" document I distributed to ODV about three weeks ago. This was also discussed at last Saturday's Executive Committee meeting; the memo to the EC on the subject is attached for your information. The memo refers to a meeting that Paul Rinaldo and I were scheduled to have over lunch on March 16 with Bill Moroney of the United Telecom Council and Brett Kilbourne of UPLC. We did, and it was quite interesting. I'll provide an after-action report as soon as I get a chance. Dave K1ZZ <<040312 BPL strategy.doc>>

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[ARRL-ODV:10250] IN-News
by Kustosik, Lisa, KA1UFZ 18 Mar '04

18 Mar '04

IN-Newsletter Vol. 27, No.11 March 17, 2004 Upcoming Meeting April 24th in Newington, CT at 8:30am A & F Committee Meeting Development A grant proposal has been submitted to CNCS for a Learn and Serve America grant totaling $634,000. The proposal is to create radio stations in 24 schools over two year period that will use a hybrid curriculum of radio basics and emergency communications and has a strong volunteer component in conjunction with Citizen Corps and other youth organizations. The W1AW Endowment has reached $87,263 from 1238 donors. The average contribution is $70.49. The follow up letters were mailed to targeted segments the week of March 8. The 2004 Spectrum Defense Fund carryover had raised $55,460 from 852 donors since January 1, 2004 with an average contribution of $65.09. This carryover in 2003 raised $40,317 from 657 donors between January and April 2003. The draft letter for the first full file Defense campaign of this year is under review. Invitations to 600 major donors and Board members for the Donor Reception in Dayton on May 13 were mailed March 12. Development is completing the recognition listing of donors for the Annual Report, QST (June issues) and the web. Media Relations Jennifer submitted "Media Hits" for the May issue of QST. Among them, of great significance, is mention of Dave Sumner's letter to the editor, which was printed in The Wall Street Journal on March 12. As reported last week, Dave responded to an article on the rollout of BPL in the Cincinnati area. In his letter, Dave explained how the technology would negatively impact the radio spectrum. The Public Relations Committee held its monthly conference call. Joining the committee as Board Liaison is Southwestern Division Vice Director Tuck Miller. Tuck joined us on the call and is getting familiarized with who is on the committee and what the group is working on this year. Progress on the Speakers Bureau Project was the major topic of discussion, and committee members are working on their individual assignments. Sherri Brower and Jennifer will be going over all finished materials at the end of March, and shortly after the information will be made available for PICs who want to get started building their own section-wide speakers bureaus. The group is also working on the annual ARRL PR Forum to be held in Dayton. The next conference call has been scheduled for April 13. Jennifer has been working with a Christian Science Monitor reporter who is gathering information for a pro-ham radio story on BPL. He has interviewed President Haynie, and is in the process of talking with representatives from other radio services that would be negatively affected by BPL technology. At this point, he has no firm deadline in place. A writer with Energy Intelligence interviewed Dave for a story on BPL. Energy Intelligence publishes a variety of weekly and daily newsletters covering stories of interest to the energy industry here in the US and worldwide. The story ran on March 8, but may only be viewed online by paying subscribers. The feature on Director Isely's reelection, which ran in The Courier News (Elgin, Illinois), led to another feature in the same paper highlighting his club, the Fox River Radio League (FRRL). Jennifer is working to complete the "Year in Review" section of the Annual Report. Sue Fagan did a fantastic job on the cover, and that portion of the project is ready to go. The February clip reports have been mailed to the Board and members of the PR Committee. Production/Editorial The ARRL RFI Book and the 2004 Eastern States VHF Conference Proceedings have been released to the printer. We checked printer's proofs for The HF Digital Handbook. Rick Lindquist reports The ARRL Letter, Vol. 23, No. 11, went out to 66,904 League members Mar 12. In addition to reviewing a dozen or so article submissions as part of the general interest articles committee, Rick prepared stories on NC hams' encounter with FCC Chairman Powell on BPL, a SC ARISS QSO, Hawaii ham antenna bills (update), Best Buy Te@ch grants to three ETP schools, Scott Redd, K0DQ, assigned to Iraq, AO-40 (update) and ARRL's new on-line Tech course, as well as KG4IUM's youth column, K7RA's "Solar Update" for Web and "In Brief" (18 items). With voiceover assistance from Jennifer Hagy and Brennan Price, Rick voiced, edited and produced ARRL Audio News for Mar 12. Sales and Marketing Members who have notified us of their position on ARRL's license proposal through their membership status stand at: Outright cancellations - 30 Definitely not renewing upon expiration - 9 Reluctantly renewed - 2 Notified us absolutely in favor of: - 2 Two new titles arrived into stock: Vintage Radio and APRS, Moving Hams on Radio and the Internet. Zoe Belliveau and the Warehouse crew processed all outstanding backorders, Our March planning includes a large membership campaign targeting Technician and Tech Plus licensees. The mailing was pulled together this week. It consists of 82,000 membership prospects. The mailing should be dropped to the post office on March 24. ARRL's newest online course, the Technician Class Course for Ham Radio Licensing, is being introduced in all the appropriate outlets. Complete details are available at www.arrl.org/cce/tech Dennis Motschenbacher and Debra Jahnke met with ICOM National Sales Manager, Ray Novak, to discuss 2004 advertising and membership recruitment activities. Membership Services Awards Branch WAS Cert. Replacement) 1 WAS End. (50 QSLs F/C) 1 A-1 Op. Noms. 31 LTMA Inquiries 3 25-Year Member Awards 37 40-Year Member Awards 21 Extra Class Certs. 13 OTC Awards 9 RCCs 8 Friendship Award 1 VUCC Initial Apps. 2 Grids 292 VUCC End. Apps. 12 Grids 299 Awards Mailed 54 Also, compiled the latest list of 50, 60, and 70-year members for May QST. Processing Status: Current or up to four weeks. For the coming week-WAS and WAC QSL card checking, VUCC and A-1 Operator awards processing, and package and mail out all awards processed this week. DXCC Branch For the week of: March 8, 2004 Beginning Cards 73,206 Cards Received 11,733 Cards Processed 14,292 Ending Cards 70,647 Applications Pending 547 Processing Time 4.5 Weeks Year-to-date (2004) Cards Received 79,296 Cards Returned 134,639 DXCC is currently mailing applications received on February 10, 2004. DXCC is currently entering cards received on February 11, 2004. Contest Branch Backordered DX Contest plaques arrived and were shipped. Mailing of June 2003 VHF certificates began. August 2003 UHF Contest and 2003 10 GHz and Up Certificates were printed and will be mailed in the next two weeks. Data entry for 2004 January VHF SS was completed and the complete Logs Received page was posted to the web. Data entry for the 2004 ARRL International DX CW Contest began. Contest announcements for Field Day and the 2004 June VHF QSO Party were prepared and sent to Production. The paper Summary Sheet for the IARU HF World Championships was redesigned to include the new categories. Full rules for the 2004 June VHF QSO party were prepared and sent for posting to the web. QSL Bureau QSL Service Status: There is a delay of approximately 2 weeks. This week 125 pounds of cards were received from members. Approximately 180 pounds of cards are waiting to be processed. Cards mailed as of 03/14/04: 217,875. No cards were mailed this week. W1AW Joe mailed the certificates for the 2003 FMT. He also handled some various ListServer duties. Scott worked on slow and fast code practice files for the month of March. He also handled some evening phone sales calls in the 5 PM to 8 PM time slot. Field & Educational Services Rosalie finished drafts of 2 reports for the ARISS-international meeting to be hosted by the European Space Agency. She set up an e-mail meeting of the ARISS education committee in place of a telecon. She nudged ARISS mentors whose schools haven't submitted NASA evaluations. Dubose School in S.C. had a good ARISS QSO. Rosalie sent club affiliation paperwork to Directors and SMs. She assisted an SM in inviting an astronaut to a ham convention. She and Jean drafted updates for the Web page for prospective hams. Gail Iannone wrote 33 hamfest and 3 convention announcements for May QST. She sent 14 hamfest approval letters and 1 convention approval letter to the sponsoring committees confirming the Division Director's approval of the events as ARRL-sanctioned, processed 2 label requests, and sent 10 handout packages for upcoming events. She corresponded with Dayton Hamvention officials to remind them to turn in their paperwork to be ARRL-sanctioned, which earns them QST publicity -- her reminder worked! Linda Mullally re-worked the SSC renewal certificates; she and Rosalie revised the paper format club benefits sheet. Linda updated 50 club records with 2 reactivations. She registered 8 Instructors, and sent 3 Exhibit Kits and 1 JOTA Kit. She checked membership rosters for 3 clubs, handled 9 SSC renewals and 3 Club Vanity email requests. She compiled the Statistic reports for QST (PHSR-BPL-SEC-STM). Amateur Radio Education & Technology Program Mark Spencer prepared and submitted 6 Project and 2 Progress grant applications to the EC, and informed SMs and Directors about their area applicants. If the grants are approved, the funds for this year will be exhausted. Mark attended the Connecticut State Science Fair, and granted awards ($50 and Now You're Talking) to a middle schooler who studied magnetism, and 2 high schoolers researching cell phone wave propagation. Mark is waiting for official school-letter requests for the TV remote decoder kits that are ready to ship. CCE Jean Wolfgang has prepared the mentor stipend check list for February and the reimbursement list for students under both of our grants. The new Technician License online course (EC-010) will offer registration for the first time on Monday, March 15, and the class will start on April 6! Jean worked with staff to accomplish this debut along with planning some of the publicity for it. Field Organization/Public Service Team Memphis-based Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC http://www.cusec.org/) --sponsored by FEMA -- has talked with Tennessee ARES leaders, inviting them and other ARES groups to take part in a test net, March 21 on 3.980 and/or 7.238. Tennessee SEC Sheila Dziubak, KB4G, contacted SECs, and Steve contacted SMs in appropriate states (TN, MS, AR, IL, IN, KY, MO, AL, VA, NC, SC, GA, LA, OK, OH, IA, NE and KS). Some sections are already preparing to participate. CUSEC hopes to learn communications strengths/weaknesses in those states. Steve also prepared the Public Service column for May QST. Leona Adams worked with Oregon SM candidates Randy Stimson, KZ7T, and Kevin Hunt, WA7VTD, preparing paperwork for the upcoming election. Incumbent SMs in IL, IN, ME, NFL, SCV, VT and WI were unopposed, and they will begin new terms on July 1. Leona sent new Amateur Radio operator labels to SMs. Regulatory Information John Hennessee assisted with a local government zoning matter in Manatee County, Florida (W4TB), and covenant restrictions in Caledonia, IL (KT9P) and Georgetown, SC (W4GTN). He has also been in contact with section leaders in Hawaii concerning two bills which seek to give state amateurs some antenna relief from covenants and subdivisions. EmComm Grants Dan Miller will present his EmComm Seminar plus a forum on Echolink and Emergency Communications at the Communications Academy event in Shoreline, WA next weekend. He reports interest in the annual EmComm Banquet at Dayton this year is greater than before. Already 47 people have registered for this informal social gathering. The "Mentor of the Year" Award will be presented again as part of the festivities. 73, Sincerely, Mark Wilson, K1RO Chief Operating Officer MW:lk Staff Absentee List Dave Sumner 4/12-4/21 IARU Reg.1 EC Meeting, & Vacation `` 4/27-5/6 Geneva, ITU working party 6E Meeting `` 5/12-5/16 Vacation Mark Wilson 3/24-3/29 Vacation Lisa Kustosik 3/19 Vacation Fatima Lorusso 3/19 Vacation Mark Spencer 3/17-3/20 ITEA Conference `` 3/30-4/5 NSTA Conference Rick Lindquist 3/26 Vacation Joe Carcia 3/19 Vacation ``` 4/5 Vacation Dan Miller 3/19-3/21 Comm. Academy CCE seminar, Shoreline, WA Jean Wolfgang 3/22-3/23 Classes Rosalie White 3/23-3/26 ARISS-International meeting, Amsterdam Robert Inderbitzen 4/1-4/2 AES Superfest Dennis Motschenbacher 4/22 Sales meeting GA `` 4/23-4/24 SVHFC Technical & Banquet Speaker `` 5/13-5/17 Vacation Deb Jahnke 4/15 Sales call-Baker & Taylor - NJ Kathy Capodicasa 4/15 Sales call-Baker & Taylor - NJ Stu Cohen 3/19 Vacation Rick Lindquist 3/26 Vacation Scott Gee 4/8 Vacation Danny Sayad 4/15-4/19 Vacation

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[ARRL-ODV:10249] Election Results for IARU President and Vice President
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 18 Mar '04

18 Mar '04

Here is the official announcement of the results of the vote to ratify the ARRL's nominations for IARU President and Vice President. Dave K1ZZ NEWS RELEASE International Amateur Radio Union P.O. Box 310905 Newington, CT 06131-0905 USA FAX; +1 860 594 0259 E-Mail: iaru(a)iaru.org 18 March 2004 For immediate release Election Results for IARU President and Vice President In voting completed on Tuesday, 16 March, the member-societies of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) overwhelmingly ratified the re-election of Larry E. Price, W4RA, as President, and the election of Timothy S. Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA, as Vice President, for five-year terms beginning 9 May 2004. There were 82 votes cast for the election of Mr. Price, with one abstention. There were 81 votes cast for the election of Mr. Ellam, with two abstentions. Mr. Ellam succeeds Dr. David A. Wardlaw, VK3ADW, who has served as Vice President since 1999 but was not available for another term. Larry E. Price, W4RA, has served as President of the IARU since 1999. He holds the degrees Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (electronics major), Master of Business Administration (management major), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D.) (finance major). Professionally, he retired as Professor and Department Head, Georgia Southern University, in 1991 and is now Emeritus Professor of Finance and Economics. Mr. Price was IARU Vice President in 1983-1984 and served as Secretary in 1989-1999. He has attended 17 IARU regional conferences, six each in Regions 1 and 2 and five in Region 3, and has represented the IARU at every ITU World Radiocommunication and Telecommunication Development Conference held since 1992 as well as at numerous other ITU meetings. He is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE). He was first licensed at age 16 in 1951 and held elected offices in the ARRL continuously for more than 25 years, including service as President from 1984 to 1992, until stepping down as ARRL International Affairs Vice President in January 2000. He resides in Statesboro, Georgia. Timothy S. Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA, is a Barrister and Solicitor with the law firm of McCarthy Tetrault LLP and is a partner in the firm's Calgary, Alberta and London, UK offices. Born in England, Tim emigrated to Canada in 1972 and holds both Canadian and British/EU citizenship. He earned the degrees Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and Economics from the University of Calgary and LLB, Faculty of Law from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, and is a member of the Law Societies of Alberta and England & Wales as well as of the International Bar Association. He has served as an IARU Expert Consultant since 2000, represented the IARU at the 2002 meeting of the ITU Special Committee on Regulatory and Procedural Matters and the 2002 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, and appeared as a speaker and panelist at the ITU Americas Telecom 2000 in Rio de Janeiro and ITU Africa Telecom 2001 in Johannesburg. First licensed in 1977 at the age of 16, he has held executive positions in the Radio Amateurs of Canada and one of its predecessor organizations, the Canadian Radio Relay League, starting in 1990. Tim was a delegate to the 1998 IARU Region 2 Conference and was elected to the Region 2 Executive Committee in 2001. He attended the IARU Region 3 Conference in Taipei, February 2004, as an observer on behalf of IARU Region 2. Retiring IARU Vice President Dr. David A. Wardlaw, VK3ADW, was honored for his accomplishments during his term of office at the closing Plenary of the IARU Region 3 Conference in Taipei on 20 February. Dr. Wardlaw served as a member of the Australian delegation to WRC-2000 and WRC-03, and represented the IARU at preparatory meetings of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity. His participation contributed substantially to the favorable outcome for the amateur services.

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[ARRL-ODV:10248] NTIA Spectrum Management Docket Proceeding -- As-filed Comments
by W3KD＠aol.com 18 Mar '04

18 Mar '04

Greetings. The attached comments were reviewed by the Executive Committee, subsequently edited by Dave Sumner and myself, and filed just now electronically with NTIA's Spectrum Management Office. They should be uploaded shortly to: http://spectrumreform.ntia.doc.gov The e-filing procedure at NTIA is very loosey-goosey, so I also sent a copy to our old friend Norb Schroeder, who is the contact person at NTIA for this Notice of Inquiry proceeding. There is no receipt possible, so we will continue to check the site for our comment posting. 73, Chris W3KD

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[ARRL-ODV:10247] Spectrum Scarcity
by Tom Frenaye 17 Mar '04

17 Mar '04

From the IEEE Spectrum - March 2004: http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/publicfeature/mar04/0304scar.html More cheerleading for the FCC's Spectrum Task Force, it appears. But, it tells us what we're up against. -- Tom ===== e-mail: k1ki(a)arrl.org ARRL New England Division Director http://www.arrl.org/ Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444

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[ARRL-ODV:10246] Re: Chicago Looking For Broadband Alternatives
by James Weaver 16 Mar '04

16 Mar '04

I've heard "third hand" comments that some power companies in the Cincinnati-Dayton area are planning to go with fiber rather than copper BPL. Don't know if these are accurate, but obviously someone is thinking about this. Jim W. AMATEUR RADIO: The only fail-safe communications system in the world. ARRL: The reason Amateur Radio is! Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director, Great Lakes Division ARRL 5065 Bethany Rd., Mason, OH 45040-9660, Tel. 513-459-0142, E-mail <mailto:k8je@arrl.org> k8je(a)arrl.org

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[ARRL-ODV:10245] Re: Chicago Looking For Broadband Alternatives
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 15 Mar '04

15 Mar '04

The study is accessible at http://www.metroplanning.org/articleDetail.asp?objectID=2055. There is an 11-minute video and a 46-page report. It essentially argues for a city-wide fiber network. The only reference to BPL that I found in a quick review was in Appendix 1, which lists 15 different broadband access technologies. About BPL it says: Description: Last mile technology similar in theory to cable and xDSL. Not widely deployed in North America, however. Power lines can provide broadband access to any power outlet and is therefore ubiquitous. Bandwidth: 2.5 Mbps Major Chicago providers: N/A Advantages: Ubiquitous coverage, uses existing infrastructure Disadvantages: Unproven technology, low deployment, shared bandwidth, security risks Connection type: Always on Media transmission type: Existing and new power lines Carrier speed equivalent: < DS-1/T1 I think a policymaker reading the report would conclude that the window of opportunity for BPL to serve Chicago-area businesses, if there is one, is about two years. Dave K1ZZ -----Original Message----- From: dick(a)pobox.com [mailto:dick@pobox.com] Sent: Monday, March 15, 2004 4:21 PM To: arrl-odv Cc: Hare,Ed, W1RFI; Imlay, Chris (ARRL Counsel) Subject: [ARRL-ODV:10244] Chicago Looking For Broadband Alternatives 15 MAR, 2004 - 1515 CST This article, which appeared in today's Chicago Tribune, sounds like the city might go for fiber optic cables. But it bears very close monitoring. 73 - Dick, W9GIG ======================================================================== http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0403150131mar15,1,6232499.story?… Report backs broadband plan CivicNet called vital to city's firms By Barbara Rose Tribune staff reporter March 15, 2004 Inside Digital Kitchen's River North offices, working versions of TV commercials and movie clips flash nearly instantly from computer to computer, allowing designers and editors to collaborate. But when it comes time to send the fat computer files of high-definition video to colleagues in Seattle and Los Angeles, Digital Kitchen resorts to dropping digital tapes in overnight mail. That's because the firm's broadband connection - a high-speed T1 line - isn't fast enough to transmit efficiently the files' billions of bits of data. "Right now we're turning down jobs, and part of the reason is not having the physical bandwidth to work collaboratively in all our offices," said President and Executive Producer Don McNeill. Faster service is available for 5 to 10 times what Digital Kitchen pays, but McNeill said his firm "can't make it work financially." Digital Kitchen is among the businesses - from high-tech firms to manufacturers such as Ford Motor Co. - highlighted in a report to be released Monday to build support for a long-stalled City Hall initiative. "From Broad Shoulders to Broadband," by the non-profit Metropolitan Planning Council, states that even though Chicago is a worldwide Internet hub, many neighborhoods still cannot access even basic broadband service. The report argues that many neighborhoods will be left behind economically unless the city moves forward with CivicNet, a project designed to save taxpayer money while extending affordable broadband service. CivicNet envisioned pooling the city's estimated $30 million annual spending on telecom services to contract with private carriers to connect 1,600 schools, libraries, police and fire stations and other facilities in a high-speed network. In exchange for winning the city's business for 10 years, the carriers would provide an open network stretching to every neighborhood. While serving the city, the network also would provide new access nodes from which to sell private service, making broadband ubiquitous and more affordable. Announced in 1999, CivicNet captured international attention as the first such ambitious undertaking. Then came the telecom industry's collapse, a recession and the city's budget crunch. While cities such as Houston moved ahead on such projects, Chicago never completed the bidding process it kicked off in late 2000. Houston is saving more than $4 million annually by moving all city facilities to a broadband fiber network, according to the planning council. A spokesman for Mayor Richard M. Daley's office said CivicNet is "on hold, but nothing has been shelved or cancelled." Bidders say privately they believe CivicNet is dead. They note that city agencies are renegotiating longer-term contracts separately. City officials, meanwhile, no longer mention economic development or enhanced neighborhood services when discussing the project, instead stressing cost savings. "It's a volume purchase of voice and data," the mayor's spokesman said. "It hasn't fallen off the radar by any stretch of the imagination." He noted that broadband technology has changed since the project's inception, adding, "Who knows what the next phase will bring when it does get back on track?" The planning council's report makes a business case for CivicNet by showing that private broadband demand exists in areas where the network would be extended to city facilities. Technology decisions, such as whether to deploy fiber-optic cable or wireless solutions, would be left up to carriers, said Scott Goldstein, the group's vice president for policy and planning. "Chicago is built on infrastructure," he said. "We've gotten far economically by building infrastructure, whether it's our railway network or O'Hare International Airport. Broadband is a basic necessity for any business." The study, conducted for the planning council by Tangent Business Solutions, analyzed broadband demand and availability for small and midsize businesses and non-profits--customers that historically are underserved. Tangent's survey found that demand for higher-level broadband service - speeds of 3 megabits per second or greater, provided by multiple T1 lines -will surge over the next three years. Forty-six percent of small and midsize businesses will require this service by 2007, compared with only 4.5 percent in 2002, Tangent found. Tangent identified areas where businesses cannot access a basic, low-cost option for broadband service--digital subscriber lines--as well as areas where customers need higher-level service but are located too far from the city's fiber-optic backbone to access it. Broadband needs will become "acute" in city-designated industrial corridors such as West Kinzie Avenue, the Pilsen neighborhood and along the North Branch of the Chicago River, the report states. According to the report, areas where some firms cannot get DSL service include the North Park and the Belmont and Central Avenues neighborhoods on the North Side; West Town, Logan Square and Little Village on the West Side; and Bronzeville, South Shore, Beverly and Pullman on the South Side. "The percentage of small and midsize businesses that cannot currently receive DSL in Chicago is approximately 10 percent," the study states. Goldstein said the planning council's objective is to spark "economic renewal" and promote jobs. "Broadband is a very inexpensive way to better connect areas that have been left behind," he said. "It just makes sense from a budget standpoint. Copyright © 2004, Chicago Tribune <http://www.chicagotribune.com/>

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[ARRL-ODV:10244] Chicago Looking For Broadband Alternatives
by dick＠pobox.com 15 Mar '04

15 Mar '04

15 MAR, 2004 - 1515 CST This article, which appeared in today's Chicago Tribune, sounds like the city might go for fiber optic cables. But it bears very close monitoring. 73 - Dick, W9GIG ======================================================================== <http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0403150131mar15,1,6232499.story?…>http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0403150131mar15,1,6232499.story?… Report backs broadband plan CivicNet called vital to city's firms By Barbara Rose Tribune staff reporter March 15, 2004 Inside Digital Kitchen's River North offices, working versions of TV commercials and movie clips flash nearly instantly from computer to computer, allowing designers and editors to collaborate. But when it comes time to send the fat computer files of high-definition video to colleagues in Seattle and Los Angeles, Digital Kitchen resorts to dropping digital tapes in overnight mail. That's because the firm's broadband connection - a high-speed T1 line - isn't fast enough to transmit efficiently the files' billions of bits of data. "Right now we're turning down jobs, and part of the reason is not having the physical bandwidth to work collaboratively in all our offices," said President and Executive Producer Don McNeill. Faster service is available for 5 to 10 times what Digital Kitchen pays, but McNeill said his firm "can't make it work financially." Digital Kitchen is among the businesses - from high-tech firms to manufacturers such as Ford Motor Co. - highlighted in a report to be released Monday to build support for a long-stalled City Hall initiative. "From Broad Shoulders to Broadband," by the non-profit Metropolitan Planning Council, states that even though Chicago is a worldwide Internet hub, many neighborhoods still cannot access even basic broadband service. The report argues that many neighborhoods will be left behind economically unless the city moves forward with CivicNet, a project designed to save taxpayer money while extending affordable broadband service. CivicNet envisioned pooling the city's estimated $30 million annual spending on telecom services to contract with private carriers to connect 1,600 schools, libraries, police and fire stations and other facilities in a high-speed network. In exchange for winning the city's business for 10 years, the carriers would provide an open network stretching to every neighborhood. While serving the city, the network also would provide new access nodes from which to sell private service, making broadband ubiquitous and more affordable. Announced in 1999, CivicNet captured international attention as the first such ambitious undertaking. Then came the telecom industry's collapse, a recession and the city's budget crunch. While cities such as Houston moved ahead on such projects, Chicago never completed the bidding process it kicked off in late 2000. Houston is saving more than $4 million annually by moving all city facilities to a broadband fiber network, according to the planning council. A spokesman for Mayor Richard M. Daley's office said CivicNet is "on hold, but nothing has been shelved or cancelled." Bidders say privately they believe CivicNet is dead. They note that city agencies are renegotiating longer-term contracts separately. City officials, meanwhile, no longer mention economic development or enhanced neighborhood services when discussing the project, instead stressing cost savings. "It's a volume purchase of voice and data," the mayor's spokesman said. "It hasn't fallen off the radar by any stretch of the imagination." He noted that broadband technology has changed since the project's inception, adding, "Who knows what the next phase will bring when it does get back on track?" The planning council's report makes a business case for CivicNet by showing that private broadband demand exists in areas where the network would be extended to city facilities. Technology decisions, such as whether to deploy fiber-optic cable or wireless solutions, would be left up to carriers, said Scott Goldstein, the group's vice president for policy and planning. "Chicago is built on infrastructure," he said. "We've gotten far economically by building infrastructure, whether it's our railway network or O'Hare International Airport. Broadband is a basic necessity for any business." The study, conducted for the planning council by Tangent Business Solutions, analyzed broadband demand and availability for small and midsize businesses and non-profits--customers that historically are underserved. Tangent's survey found that demand for higher-level broadband service - speeds of 3 megabits per second or greater, provided by multiple T1 lines -will surge over the next three years. Forty-six percent of small and midsize businesses will require this service by 2007, compared with only 4.5 percent in 2002, Tangent found. Tangent identified areas where businesses cannot access a basic, low-cost option for broadband service--digital subscriber lines--as well as areas where customers need higher-level service but are located too far from the city's fiber-optic backbone to access it. Broadband needs will become "acute" in city-designated industrial corridors such as West Kinzie Avenue, the Pilsen neighborhood and along the North Branch of the Chicago River, the report states. According to the report, areas where some firms cannot get DSL service include the North Park and the Belmont and Central Avenues neighborhoods on the North Side; West Town, Logan Square and Little Village on the West Side; and Bronzeville, South Shore, Beverly and Pullman on the South Side. "The percentage of small and midsize businesses that cannot currently receive DSL in Chicago is approximately 10 percent," the study states. Goldstein said the planning council's objective is to spark "economic renewal" and promote jobs. "Broadband is a very inexpensive way to better connect areas that have been left behind," he said. "It just makes sense from a budget standpoint. Copyright © 2004, <http://www.chicagotribune.com/>Chicago Tribune

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