Four-Part Strategy
- Public support
- Infrastructure
- Operations
- Business model
Education and outreach
- Blog and newsletter?
- Regular social meetings
- Wiki / Lit review / real examples
- Outreach with local organizations and communities
- Neighborhood associations
- DSA
Creating Infrastructure
The internet requires infrastructure in the form of fiber optic cables running from every house to a central backbone. This is an up-front fixed cost we must tackle first.
- Expansion of IRNE net
- Dig once dig smart
- Ballot measure for general obligation bond for outside plant
There are a few directions we can go to provide infra:
- Fund infrastructure across the city using a general obligation bond. We would not be reliant on IRNE net to connect to a long-haul provider.
- Fund infrastructure in a neighborhood and use IRNE net to connect to a long-haul provider.
- Buy the existing infra off current, private ISPs
The are two direction we can go to provide internet service:
- Open access
- Co-op
There are benefits from economies of scale. The bigger scale we can pull off, the cheaper the hardware will be.
Designing Operating Practices
Once the infrastructure is in place, we need people with the expertise to run the system.
Who is going to run and maintain the infra? There may be existing businesses out there that we can hire.
Co-op could own infra and/or internet service
- Partnership with LINK Oregon?
- Working with the city manager?
- Open access w/ low barrier to entry
- Co-op ISP
Business model
With infrastructure and operations handled, running the systems needs to have a sustainable business model that empowers the people of Portland to have the internet the need: affordable, fast, etc.
- Cooperative model
- Public utility district
- Open access