Town Hall Meeting

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• Town Hall Meeting
• April 22, 2003
• Coleman Public Library

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Todays Agenda

• 500 P.M.    Welcome Introductions Jenee
  Velasquez, Midland Economic Development Council
• 510 P.M.    Midland County Internet Technology
  Overview
• What does the last mile mean?
• DSL (Residential, Business)
• Cable Modem (Residential, Business)
• Wireless Internet (Private networks, last mile)
• Fiber (Schools, Business, Hospitals,
  Universities)
• 520 P.M.    Moderated Discussion Mike
  Demetriou
• 600 P.M.    Wrap Up/Questions

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• The Link Michigan Mission is to facilitate
  investments that help provide the most robust
  telecommunications infrastructure in the nation.
  
• The LinkMBS project is designed to facilitate
  investments that help provide the most robust
  telecommunications infrastructure in the state.

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State-Wide What were facing

• Cable modem penetration is positive but
  indications show it at national averages
• High-speed backbone support infrastructure
  sufficient in lower 1/3 of the state around major
  population centers but lacking elsewhere
• Michigan ranks 37th nationally in the percentage
  of residents and small businesses that utilize
  high-speed lines
• Michigan ranks 40th in the nation for the number
  of schools with high-speed access

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Regionally What were facing

• Broadband shortfalls identified in retention
  recruitment visits
• Service complaints rise as more businesses need
  to go on-line at faster speeds
• Lack of services in many areas of the region
• Inconsistent availability
• Lack of information from vendors supplying
  services
• Needs of education e-govt
• Competitive need to be better than average

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What companies are saying

• We need to send and download more complex
  documents
• DSL/Cable arent completely/consistently
  available
• We need T-1 installation in two weeks not several
  months
• More choices needed
• Community access needed for our employees
• What is available where?

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Stakeholder Groups

• Business Industry
• Healthcare Providers
• Education Community
• Government/Residents/Public

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Taskforce Timeline

• January- Presentation to Vision TriCounty
• February-TriCounty Taskforce Formed
• Notice Of Intent Approved April 18th
• May-RFP/RFQ Process for Consultant Selection
• June/July taskforce reviewed and evaluated the
  proposals,
• Interviewed top 3 firms
• Grant Application submitted July 1st
• Grant of 192,500 approved August 1st
• Control Room Technologies (CRT) Selected
• September-Taskforce Secured Pledged Funding
• Consultant Contract Signed October 1st

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Regional Funding Sources

• Saginaw Valley State University
  
• Delta College
• Davenport University
• CMS Energy
• Bay-Saginaw-Midland MI-Works

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Midland County Local Match

• The Dow Chemical Company
• Northwood University
• The Dow Foundation
• Midland Chamber of Commerce
• Midland Cogeneration Venture

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Bay County Local Match

• Bay Economic Development Corporation
• County of Bay
• Bay County Growth Alliance
• Gregory/Pumford Construction
• Gougeon Brothers
• MacMillan Associates
• Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation

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Saginaw County Local Match

• Saginaw County Revolving Loan Fund Board
• Bridgeport Downtown Development
• Authority
• Pumford Construction
• Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce

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Sample Questions to Consider

• Do you have/does your business have access to the
  Internet via a high-speed connection?
• Are you satisfied with your high-speed Internet
  access?
• What is the primary reason that you choose to
  connect to the Internet?
• Do your students/parents/teachers use the
  Internet to connect with each other?
• Do you think your area needs better or cheaper
  high-speed Internet access?
• Is there enough competition in the area?
• Are prices low enough/speeds fast enough?
• How should we encourage/entice more competition?

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www.linkmbs.org

• Open to the public
• Continuously Updated
• Source for Information
• Archive of Project
• Survey Results
• Provider Inventory
• In the news
• Final Report will be accessible here

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Questions/Involvement

• Taskforce Members
• Steve Jonas, SFI
• 754-8222
• Jenee Velasquez, Midland EDC
• 839-0340
• Laura Ogar, Bay County
• 895-4135