[wplug] [Fwd: [Pittsburgh] Neighborhood Internet Hookups on Hold]

Mon Apr 14 15:05:48 EDT 2003

I am meeting with Drew this week, and this certainly a point of our 
discussion...

AS for the need for bandwidth, its a cost issue.. But certainly this is 
something that can be procured....

Has anyone approached the foundations in town about this? Also, how about 
the Carnegie Libraries- imagine there are a few of them nearby that could 
provide something...

On the giant cost for computers, there are a number of initiatives and even 
one locally (not to mention the Goodwill initiative) to make computers 
available to non profits and the under served.... Give some people a phone 
call and get the ball rolling...

I am not voting for Fribee or for over priced computers and 10 Gigs of 
bandwidth to sit idle and have no positive impact... I am sure if someone 
puts a cohesive plan together with the benefits, utilization and projected 
impact there can be a for profit component and we might be able to better 
position this initiative with other non profits... The non profit community 
around here is huge and certainly needs to work within and with each other 
better...

I am willing to donate some of my time to give some recommendations, review 
formal plans and help get this done..

-paris

>Hi Folks,
>
>Good to see the buzz about the news last week printed in the TRIB. Thanks,
>Russ Schneider for the original repost.
>     http://www.wplug.org:8080/pipermail/wplug/2003-April/005060.html
>
>Paris Lundis, Drew, Zhrodague, Laurel Mateskovic seemed to have contributed
>$.02 or more. My reply, as I've been in the front seat as to this story and
>efforts.
>
>
> > [Note to Drew:  Was this Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network the place
> > you were talking to before? ]
>
>Don't know what was mentioned before, but PIIN (Pgh Interfaith Impact
>Network) isn't a "place" but rather 32+ congregations with one small office
>and two fulltime employees. PIIN got some press around our Feb. 20th public
>meeting with more than 1,000 people attending at a church in the Hill.
>PIIN's web site is nil, but our archives for this 'tech effort' is at these
>lists:
>     http://Rauterkus.com/mailman/listinfo/piin-rec-talk
>      http://Rauterkus.com/mailman/listinfo/piin-rec-noise
>        http://Rauterkus.com/mailman/listinfo/piin-rec-announce
>     General position paper not yet done, but due within pages at:
>         http://dorm.cloh.org/spots/
>
>
>-paris may have posted:
> > It pretty simple... why doesn't the Network do a fund raiser?  Too many
> > expectations of handouts...
>
>Not really. The PIIN model is for systemic change, not the opening of a new
>soup kitchen. So, some problems are for folks in leadership (elected) roles
>to solve.
>
>The expectation of a handout in this case was made very light in that the
>Citiparks Directors built computer labs at a good number of Citipark Rec
>Centers some years ago. Desks, swivel chairs, new floor, wiring, etc. have
>been put in -- but never used to any degree of satisfaction. We're asking
>them to follow-up on their prior investments -- much more costly than the
>PCs. Plus, we know the cost to be close to $0 due to donations and the
>existing franchise cable contract already signed by city hall folks a few
>years ago.
>
> > As for spending money for ultimate frisbee funding, I only can say what an
> > over-hyped micro-interest that is totally being shouldered by some elbow
> > greasing... shameful... but then again someone is fair to argue the same
> > about these community centers :)
>
>Nods.
>The Mayor knows the urban teens don't vote like professional young people
>wishing to play Ultimate.
>
>Drew was reported to write:
> >  Perfect opportunity for a variety of wireless options, as long as
> > an agreement with an upstream provider can take place.
> >
> >  There's probably the option to share bandwidth as a sort-of
> > donation, too.
> >
> >  For more wireless information in and arround Pittsburgh, check-out
> > http://www.pghwireless.com
>
>A meeting with Drew would be most welcomed.
>
>Then -Anti
> > IF we could unwire em an get ISPs to play nice, that would definately spark
> > public interest (I think). That's just the type of "human interest" thing
> > that gets to these old fuckers and soccer moms around here. I could see it
> > opening doors for equipt an cash donations easily.
>
>We do see this as a great way to start a spark and a fire! We like what we
>see from Pgh Public Schools -- parent dashboard -- so real time attendance
>can be monitored (truancy).
>
>True too as to a key to opening doors for equipment and cash. There are very
>few if any low rungs on the ladder of public engagement for the benefit of
>community involvement with Citiparks. If a biz wants to lend a hand, they'd
>be hitting heads against closed doors -- unless you want to sponsor say the
>4th of July Fireworks or the Zone 3 Police Station.
>
>And, the computer stations could be a nice "intergenerational exercise" --
>also something that is rare in our parks and city's infrastructure. Senior
>Centers and Rec Centers exist in the same buildings but the policy is that
>"NEVER shall the two meet."
>
>More from -Anti
> > And another thing I just thought of... My friend's mother is tight with Tom
> > Murphy... For this it would make sense to contact Citiparks AND the mayor's
> > office. What would be even better is to lay the idea on Murphy himself. 
> Even
> > if it isn't financially "possible" that man's got a rep for doin what he
> > wants reguardless. Could be a bad move too, but being that the Pghwireless
> > stake in the project is nothing to begin with I don't see how it could hurt
> > much. When you gonna be in town Drew? I'll make a call today if ya want,
> > couldn't hurt.
>
>Trust me, the Mayor knows all about the history of our plans and demands. He
>isn't in the loop for the future -- yet. Two faxes were sent (Feb 8 & 10)
>saying that the cost for 32 total computers in 8 Rec centers would be >
>$600k. Still clueless but informed. We'd like the Mayor to take credit for
>getting this done -- ASAP. Yes, Tom Murphy (and Cox) do what they want and
>little else. And, yes, "calls from any and all of you won't hurt." Bring em
>on.
>
>Plus, there are a few other things still to shout about. More to come. I'm
>subscribed on three lists on "digest."
>
>
>
>Ta.
>
>
>Mark Rauterkus
>mark at Rauterkus.com  http://Rauterkus.com
>http://CLOH.Org   http://Sunnyhill.org    http://www.Deliberate.com
>
>Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network's first 'Public Action' was Feb 20,
>2003 at Wesley Center A.M.E.-Zion Church. Thanks for lending your power to
>this effort and its Youth & Recreation Task Force. http://dorm.cloh.org
>_______________________________________________
>wplug mailing list
>wplug at wplug.org
>http://www.wplug.org/mailman/listinfo/wplug