It looks like our radar screen will continue to flash updates about issues and concerns that we have commented on in earlier blogs, but these topics are not going away. Why? Aren’t they “old” news? Not necessarily; they’re important topics that all cybernauts should keep up-to-date on because they will impact – not only – Our Cyberspace, but – Our Cyberplace-Petaluma. For example:
Emergency Preparedness has been touched upon in Blogs #5,6, & 10. It looks like a theme that will be around for some time in Cyberspace. The main question is, What are we doing in our local Cyberplaces to be better prepared? As new programs and projects are created and made available to Petalumans, they will be announced in this column.
Broadband has resurfaced, recently, as a major nation concern. (Blogs #4 & 9). But take a look out into Cyberspace and you will find an interesting quote from a Canadian Telecommunication “Policy Review Panel” … The government’s objective is to ensure that Canada has a strong, internationally competitive telecommunications industry, which delivers world-class affordable services and products for the economic and social benefit of all Canadians in all regions of Canada.
WOW! Wouldn’t it be great if our City Council made a similar statement (perhaps in our new General Plan), that would declare such a target objective as “official?” Then the Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Committee could move forward and make recommendations that would help achieve the objective.
Municipal Wi-Fi Networks is another local concern. Once, again, a Cyberspace source http://www.thenation.com posted online on March 24, 2006, an article titled, Google’s Wi-Fi Privacy Ploy. The message was that cities all across America are rushing to create Wi-Fi zones that are free or low-cost. They recognize that such networks are needed if their city is to be economically sustainable (remember Broadband, above?) At the same time,they realize that there isn’t anything like a “free lunch.” The money to build and maintain such a network has to come from someone’s pocket – public and/or private. As various proposals appear in the many eNewletters devoted to Wi-Fi, they will become “food for thought” in our blog.
As we have have often said when signing out, stay tuned. Please feel free to add your comments to these blogs. Share your wisdom, knowledge, and creativity.