Please don't forget about the Woogle initiative

We really need to keep the momentum flowing on this issue. Since the Request For Information (RFI) was submitted a week and a half ago, we have seen a dramatic loss of momentum (growth) on the Woogle Facebook page, which I believe is indicative of the loss in general of momentum in the community on this issue. The way that I remember it, we grew by 1,500 subscribers in the first 3 days after the Facebook site was established and now it has taken over 3 weeks to grow by 1,500 people. I think it is awesome that we have over 6,100 fans of the Woogle Facebook site, but we need to reinvigorate the momentum.

Google is still in the beginning stages of this process and it seems like we are in a lull waiting for Google to take action. I believe that it will be a mistake if we drop the ball and don't continue to push the understanding of this broadband issue forward. If Google looks our way and sees that there is general apathy at this point, then they may decide to look elsewhere.

I really believe that we need to move towards building a contingency Ultra Highspeed Broadband plan. First of all, because if Google were to not choose us, we are still lacking the technological capacity we need moving forward. Secondly, I think that Google would have more respect for this community and know that we are serious about this issue, if we express that we are moving forward in this process. Would they not be more likely to choose a community that has bought into Google's idea about what is need in the way of 21st Century Data communication? It would show that we are willing to work with them, instead of expecting some sort of Google entitlement program.

It goes back to what I spoke about in my last article about process versus objectives; the objective is to build a 21st century broadband network in this area. We have to have this or this community is not going to have a key ingredient that it needs to compete on the Economic Development front. I still don't think that we have gotten through to enough people to create a tipping point of understanding as to how important it is that we be able to offer this asset to the type of community (people) we want to be in the future.

I certainly hope that Google will deliver this infrastructure to this area and these comments should not be construed as a message that I feel that we are out of the running. I have heard people say, why should Google locate this network here? But I retort, why shouldn't Google locate this network here. I believe that we have a lot of great ingredients and Google would create more value for their company by locating the network here in our community which faces economic challenges. This network would lead to a fundamental shift in how our area operates.

I believe that eyes have been opened to the wondrous technological possibilities brought forward by the proposed Gigabit Internet Communications Utility. We can't afford to push this issue down the road to infinity. We certainly need to continue facilitating this Google initiative in any way that we can, but we also need to have a Plan B, because we certainly don't need to start over from scratch should Google decide to move forward without us.

I see a problem with the process, if we have put all of our eggs in the Google basket. This should not be treated like some sort of lottery. This is a business proposal and should be given that status. That is my rant for the day on this subject. We need to be salesmen for this area. Keep going back to your friends and connections, selling them on this plan. Study the issue and from there you will be a more effective representative of this plan. And never give up, because we always need to be ready should the opportunity arise.

Our message to Google needs to be that we are serious about this network. We will help you in any way that we can to implement it, should you decide to come here, but if you decide to go elsewhere, we are going to move forward on this objective anyway.


A message from Catawba County's Information Director Terry Bledsoe (The Chairman of the Catawba County Future Economy Council): It's Simply "Magic"

Below are links to the history of this movement according to the Hickory Hound:
BROAD BAND!!!
City of Hickory - Thinking Big with a Gig
I have a Dream - A 21st Century Hickory
Woogle - How You can Help Us Get Google Ultra High Speed Broadband
3,040 Facebook Fans of the Woogle Initiative - Team Woogle meets with FEC
3/9/2010 - Woogle Town Hall meeting tonight done. Onto Lenoir Thursday night
Google - Come make History in Hickory!!!
Hickory's Diaspora - Bring Home the Scattered Seeds
Team Woogle's Final Push - Before Hickory City Council - 3/23/2010
Google Request for Information website - Help spread the word