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What are the possibilities?
What are the possibilities for this project?
There are multiple ways to start and end this project. Here are
some basics. Keep in mind that none of these options are set in
stone. Each increase in subscribers allows us additional options.
It can be as easy as finding 15 to 20 subscribers in a smaller
area (1/4 mile radius), and letting an ISP provide all of the
needed services for us. For this, we would collect our subscribers,
make a proposal, make a couple of phone calls and faxes, then
evaluate the proposals we receive back.
We would pay standard DSL rates for standard DSL. The more subscribers
we get, the more possibilities, or options we will be able to
explore. Lets examine the best case scenario. We have 50 or
100 subscribers. We become our own ISP, lease our own lines, and
split the costs between the subscribers. What might we pay for
this? It is possible, that our cost could be as low as $10 to
$20 per month. If we secure that pricing, would we be willing
to pay $20 to $30 per month to have more options/possibilities?
Lets just say, we could end up paying $20 or $30 per month for
telephone and Internet resources. Possibly negotiating Long distance
rates as a group that would be far better than anything we could
negotiate on our own. This is the other option.
A "Wired Neighborhood"
Take a look at our links page, and look
at things related to the "Wired Neighborhood", "Networked
Communities", etc.. Just remember the people doing all of
this studies on this new topic, don't understand the simplicity
of the project they are investigating. It is all just a Local
Area Network, gone to the Neighborhood. It is the same type of
network that you have in your office at work, except the computers
are connected in remote locations, by other means than what is
typical in an office environment. Once connected, there is initially
a private network, whether there are servers involved or not!
Probably will not be, but there is a good possibilities that there
could be too. So when you hear about Juke boxes, forums, ezines,
mailing lists, etc.. just remember that all of these are ready
made applications that already exist in massive proportions on
the Internet. All we need is a couple of kids to help us set it
all up. Just remember, all we need is a couple of 10 year old
children, and you will be absolutely amazed at what happens.
As a group, we will have purchasing power that will cause vendors
to target us with "Their Best Deals". Because we are
a group, we will be able to make group decisions effectively,
and you will be absolutely amazed at the opportunities that will
be extended to us for being organized. Everything from Apples
to Zippers.
Is there something that you think needs to be changed in our town?
As an organized lobby group, you will have the utmost respect
by your politicians and leaders.
How many groups could effectively be organized in Bogalusa? Use
your imagination. Once we have completed our project, how difficult
would it be to duplicate it? So, when you talk to your friends,
tell them, as soon as we finish phases in our project, we can
help you to get your area online. Remember, we are not trying
to sell you services, we are purchasing them together. We are
trying to get the best deal for everyone involved! The more communities
we involve, the more circuits we purchase, the cheaper we get
them, and our overall price comes down. If someone else, outside
of your area is interested, ask them to fill out the form "Other
Areas" and I will contact them with details, and see
if they have someone in that area willing to help them get their
project rolling.
Option (1)BASIC: The least amount of effort. Standard DSL,
Standard Prices.
15 to 20 people desire access in a 1/4 mile radius. We call a
list of ISP's, give them our list of people, addresses, etc..
and tell them we want access. They will calculate ROI, agree to
installation of DSL, and we will all pay around $50.00/month for
the access. It starts with the signatures, and ends with signatures.
We will evaluate and take the best deal offered.
Option (2)MORE INVOLVED: More Effort, more possibilities,
less cost, more power, greater opportunity to help ourselves and
others in and out of our immediate area.
20 People and up.
Radius: Average of 1/4 mile to 1 mile: Why the change in radius?
Well anything more than allowing an ISP to handle us like his
normal clients gives us the technological advantage of using other
technologies to extend our reach, and cover our client base. Rather
than using standard DSL, we can move up to a full T1, and then
distribute the T1 to our members in whatever means necessary to
achieve our goal. We will be able to explore the use of all technologies
in order to do this. What is available? Wow, this could be a very
long, and very technical discussion. Lets just say that DSL would
be the slowest option that we would explore! Wireless 10Mb Ethernet
would probably be the most cost effective alternative for us.
If we were building a brand new subdivision, Fiber optics would
definitely be installed to each home, then converted into a copper
technology to be distributed within the home.
I have read about the "Wired Neighborhoods".
Can we really do that?
Absolutely! The most valuable resources we will have, once we
are up and running are our children. We will put them in charge
of every project where they show an interest, and just sit back
and watch them go! With a little directional guidance, they will
be showing us what needs to be done next. Other things will have
to be done by others in our group. We will use whatever expertise
is available to us, in the most efficient manner. Maybe we need
someone to correct the slop that I have put on this site. Make
it more organized, and more presentable. I'll bet we will have
a school teacher, writer, or someone else that would be happy
to volunteer that service. Maybe we have someone who view this
site and says "Man, they sure need some graphics on that
site". Maybe someone else that says, "Hey they are talking
about Wireless". I install towers, and I can get them some
really good rates". Maybe another says, "I'm an Attorney,
and I can see they are going to want to set up an Association
to put this under". Maybe one of our kids says, "Hey,
I would love to be a Forum Operator". Maybe several others
say "I don't know about all of that other stuff, but I can
sure go out and say "Hello" to my neighbors and give
them a flyer. Maybe you have access to a copier at work, and your
boss says "Make a bunch of copies for your effort".
Maybe you are a Real Estate Broker, and you can see the value
of this project to houses that you market for sales. You might
be willing to put in a plug for us since you advertise anyway!
Maybe you are sitting on the City Council, and you know of "Neighborhood"
plans that are available to us for doing technology upgrades in
our areas.
Folks! I'm not dreaming here! There are grants out there for
this type of projects. There are Real Estate Investors that would
drool at getting their subdivisions "Wired". I guarantee
sales of Real Estate would get an Immediate boost from adding
technology to their Subdivisions. I know what you are thinking.
And Yes! Absolutely! This will definitely add value to your home.
But marketability will be the most important. If a buyer of a
new home uses the Internet, and your home is "Wired"
and the next home is not, guess who gets the deal?
I love the outskirts of town. I don't like big cities. But, the
first thing I look at is "Can I get good Internet Access"
at my new home? I moved back to Bogalusa because my new wife had
to finish her Masters in New Orleans. I thought about moving to
New Orleans, and started checking with Charter Communications
on their Cable modem access in Bogalusa. They had a project that
was in motion. Franklinton was first, and Bogalusa was next. Their
projected roll out for Bogalusa was January 2002. That was the
weight that tipped the scales and sent us to Bogalusa, rather
than New Orleans. Thanks to whatever, they did not meet expectations,
and neither was there a driving force to get DSL out here. I was
just about ready to settle for 2way Satellite, when I got mad
and said, "If people just knew that it was available, we
would probably have it by now"! And so that is where we stand
today.
Make no mistake! I am in this for the access. The less work for
me, the better. But, I do understand the value of this project,
and what it has to offer to all of us. Just use your imagination,
and you will be able to see the enormous value of this type of
project too. What I do know is, none of us can do this on our
own. Together, you will be "Awed" at your progress.
And that is a promise!
So, lets get signed up
now, and start working together. If the $50.00/month is more than
you think it is worth, tell us! We don't have a problem with that!
We will only include you as a subscriber, when we get enough members
where the calculated cost is at your requested level. It may be
that 10 of you sign up and say, "I would be willing to pay
$35.00 per month". You just might be the 10 people we need
to get the price to $35.00 per month!
But, if we don't know about those of you who are willing, we might
not consider you, and it may be that we could have all saved $15.00/month
if we knew you were willing to pay $35.00.
Don't have a computer? What if you could get one for Cost, or
maybe just a little more?
Say we have 50 people, and 10 of them are ready for a new computer
to go with the new service. Think we could get a better deal if
we bought 10 at a time?
I know what you are thinking. How do we get all of this organized.
It's simple! Put a note up on the "Want to Buy" section
of our Forum, and see how many people are interested, and what
type of Computer they want. Then suggest a target date for the
order. All interested people put in their order specs, and someone
helps to put the order together. We talk about it, research prices,
and make our best deal. How many people does it take to be very
effective? 1, 2 or 3! Do you think out of 10 people who want a
computer, 3 people might be interested enough to do a little research
and find the best prices, and best deals. I think so. Especially
when there are people within their group who have that knowledge
and can suggest tips and techniques, and "Don't forget this,
and that"?. I think so. So can we agree that this is a working
Theory! Maybe not, but have a little faith in Human beings, and
realize that you are part of a team asking questions together.
Do it on your own, maybe not, together, most definitely.
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