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Rural Hamilton County, IL, a fairly backward backwoods place<br>
by just about any yardstick one chooses, has fibre-optic cable<br>
running everywhere. They had no electrical power until 1947 and<br>
no telephone service until the early 1960's. The electrical power<br>
is provided by an REA Co-op and is cheap and effective. The<br>
telephone service for the rural areas is also a local cooperative<br>
run by a local board populated mostly by local farmer-types.<br>
The local telephone co-op ran fibre-optic lines for high speed internet
everywhere some<br>
10 years ago. Interestingly internet is an important service<br>
for agriculture.<br>
<br>
They give the patrons of the co-op a dividend payment<br>
every year that is proportional to the amount of years past service that<br>
they used. It can amount to several hundred dollars per year.<br>
<br>
Champaign-Urbana would be well-advised to consider such a model,<br>
but there seems to be too much money at stake in C-U for the <br>
vampires and the maggots to not get in on the money pie.<br>
<br>
Ameren stock is considered to be a sound investment since they<br>
regularly reap benefits from the people they have in absolute<br>
captivity.<br>
<br>
<br>
On 07/30/13 8:33, "E. Wayne Johnson 朱稳森" wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:51F709D8.5080709@pigsqq.org" type="cite">
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zomfg.<br>
<br>
This owner could have Obama-like authority.<br>
<br>
The monopolies provided to semi-private public utilities<br>
are always a risk for abuse.<br>
<br>
On 07/30/13 5:54, David Green wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:1375134860.3383.YahooMailNeo@web142401.mail.bf1.yahoo.com"
type="cite">
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<div><span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr"> <var id="yui-ie-cursor"></var>----- Forwarded
Message -----<br>
<font face="Arial" size="2"> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b>
Danielle Chynoweth <a moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:chyn@ojctech.com"><chyn@ojctech.com></a><br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:imc-makerspace@lists.chambana.net">"imc-makerspace@lists.chambana.net"</a>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:imc-makerspace@lists.chambana.net"><imc-makerspace@lists.chambana.net></a>;
<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:discuss-communitycourtwatch@lists.chambana.net">"discuss-communitycourtwatch@lists.chambana.net"</a>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:discuss-communitycourtwatch@lists.chambana.net"><discuss-communitycourtwatch@lists.chambana.net></a>;
Closed list for
IMC Board of Directors Discussion
<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:imc-boardofdirectors@lists.chambana.net"><imc-boardofdirectors@lists.chambana.net></a>
<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Monday, July
29, 2013 1:54 PM<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> [Discuss]
Essential mtg on future of public broadband in CU: Tues 7pm in
Champaign Council chambers<br>
</font> </div>
<div class="y_msg_container"><br>
<div id="yiv5503618240">
<div dir="ltr"><span
style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-size: 13px;">The
two
city councils are meeting jointly Tues 7pm in Champaign council
chambers to discuss a proposal to give the assets of UC2B to a private,
non-profit 501(c)4 organization. </span><br>
<div><span
style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-size: 13px;"><br>
</span></div>
<div><span
style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-size: 13px;">I
question strongly why we would hand over $33 million dollars in public
assets to a private entity. According the documents, which I have
reviewed in detail, this new owner will be able to alter its own
bylaws, eject troublesome directors, meet in private with little cause,
meet and make decisions in remote locations, and even take action in
writing without a meeting or any public oversight. If the group decides
to dissolve, there is no provision that the assets would revert to
public ownership or give the public right of first refusal. </span></div>
<div><span
style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-size: 13px;"><br>
</span></div>
<div><span
style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-size: 13px;">Tuesday
is
the best time to give input. They will meet and review an
Intergovernmental agreement and bylaws at 7pm and public input is at
8pm.</span></div>
<div><span
style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-size: 13px;"><br>
</span></div>
<div><span
style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-size: 13px;">Final
votes
on this are next week Aug 5 7pm in Urbana Aug 6 7pm in Champaign.</span></div>
<div><span
style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-size: 13px;"><br>
</span></div>
<div><span
style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-size: 13px;">Below
is
a draft of my letter to the councils, written representing myself
not UCIMC, that might give some additional background and ways forward.</span></div>
<div>
<div><span
style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-size: 13px;"><br>
</span></div>
<div><span
style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-size: 13px;">You
may
view<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-12564/SS%202013-037.pdf"
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> the proposed intergovernmental
agreement and bylaws</a>.</span><br>
</div>
<div><span
style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-size: 13px;"><br>
</span></div>
<div><span
style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-size: 13px;">-
Danielle</span></div>
</div>
<div><span
style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-size: 13px;"><br>
</span></div>
<div><span
style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-size: 13px;"><br>
</span></div>
<div><span
style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-size: 13px;">LETTER
TO
COUNCILS ON UC2B </span></div>
<div>
<div class="yiv5503618240">Good evening. My name is Danielle
Chynoweth and I live at 412 W. Illinois St. in Urbana.</div>
<div class="yiv5503618240">I have been advocating for universal
access in Champaign Urbana for 15 years and advise the FTC and FCC on
media policy. In addition to co-owning Pixo, an IT business in Urbana,
I serve on the board of the Independent Media Center, an active anchor
on the UC2B network. We have worked towards digital inclusion for 13
years and engineered an open source wireless mesh network used
internationally. I served on Urbana City Council from 2001 to 2008
during which I, along with Peter Resnick, spearheaded the Broadband
Access Committee of the the Cable & Telecommunications Commission -
the committee that shepherded the BTOP grant. <br>
</div>
<div class="yiv5503618240">I want to commend everyone for your
hard
work to develop a next generation network that has the potential to be
an economic and educational game changer in our community. Few in this
community yet realize what UC2B can make possible for us. </div>
<div class="yiv5503618240">I understand we are under a tight
deadline to determine the holder of UC2B assets. I have read the
intergovernmental agreement and bylaws in detail and have specific
recommendations that will help us avoid unintended consequences and
ensure the network continues to grow in the public interest. We, the
taxpayers, committed $33 million to this network with this provision:
that it would operate in the public interest.<br>
</div>
<div class="yiv5503618240">I support the creation of a non-profit
entity to govern and operate the network. A 501©4 is a flexible vehicle
to support growth.<br>
</div>
<div class="yiv5503618240">That said, I question strongly why we
would hand over $33 million dollars in public assets to a private
entity. Especially one that can write its own bylaws, eject
troublesome directors, meet in private with little cause, meet and make
decisions in remote locations, and even take action in writing without
a meeting or any public oversight. Worse yet, if the group decides to
dissolve, there is no provision that the assets would revert to public
ownership or give the public right of first refusal.</div>
<div class="yiv5503618240">I am concerned that if we hand over
this
asset, we lose our ability to use municipal bonds to grow the network.
Fiber networks that seek to be universal often need an investor or
bonds to build out. Courting investors means we lose control, bonds
retain public control and make benefits, such as surplus, public.</div>
<div class="yiv5503618240">Here are some proposed changes:</div>
<div class="yiv5503618240"><b>Ownership</b></div>
<div class="yiv5503618240">- Create the 501©4 to govern the
network
but retain public ownership of it while providing UC2B a long term
lease. </div>
<div class="yiv5503618240">- Public ownership is the right
direction. If for some reason you decide to transfer the assets, at the
very least make sure the ownership of the network transfers back to the
cities upon dissolution of UC2B. Give the cities right of first refusal
in any sale.</div>
<div class="yiv5503618240">- Sale of the network to a for profit
entity should require a public referendum to ensure the board is good
stewards with public funds.</div>
<div class="yiv5503618240"><b>Appointments and removals</b></div>
<div class="yiv5503618240">- The cities and university should
retain appointment authority of the board. The board should not have
the option of changing the way the board is constituted at this point.
Although I can see the benefits of gaining some independence in the
future, I think this is a process and should only be done if there is
more transparency and accountability built in.</div>
<div class="yiv5503618240"><span class="yiv5503618240">- UC2B
currently has two community representatives, albeit they are non
voting. Under the bylaws, this is not guaranteed. </span>Having board
positions for users or representatives from anchor institutions on the
board will make it stronger and more informed.</div>
<div class="yiv5503618240">- If you choose not to stipulate room
for community representatives, I suggest the bylaws create a standing
committee of network users who are subscribers or affiliated with
anchor institutions.</div>
<div class="yiv5503618240"><span class="yiv5503618240">- Remove
4.6
in the bylaws which allows "a Director to be </span>removed <b>for
any reason for cause</b> by an affirmative vote of not less than
two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors then entitled to vote; provided,
however that such affirmative vote must include at least one (1)
Director appointed by each of the Appointing Entities." and later says
"For this purpose, cause shall include b<b>ut not be limited to</b>
malfeasance, unethical or unprofessional behavior, breach of a duty to
the Corporation and/or conduct which prevents or makes it difficult for
the Board to conduct business." This seems to be unusual language that
allows Directors to remove other Directors for subjective reasons like
making "it difficult" for the Board to conduct business. I think the
appointing entities should have this power, not the board itself. The
board has the power of majority vote which should be sufficient. I see
no reason why to include this strange stipulation that can have the
effect of silencing important, minority points of view.<br>
</div>
<div class="yiv5503618240"><b>Public meetings and notices</b></div>
<div class="yiv5503618240">- As written, the board can go into
closed session for any reason deemed in the interest of the network
with majority vote. I suggest closing the meetings require 2/3 vote as
long as the "yeses" include one vote from each appointing entity.</div>
<div class="yiv5503618240">- Notices of meetings should be public
always.<span class="yiv5503618240"> </span>Directors shall (not may)
report periodically to the councils, and meetings must be held in
Champaign Urbana.<br>
</div>
<div class="yiv5503618240"><span class="yiv5503618240">- </span>Section
5.12
on Action by Written Consent states: "Any action required or
permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or any
committee thereof may be taken <b>without a meeting</b>, if all
members of the Board of Directors or of such committee, as the case may
be, at the time in office, consent thereto in writing and the writing
or writings are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board
of Directors or of such committee." This should not be allowed by is
circumvents the public meetings clause above. The board can take action
without any meeting or accountability to the public.</div>
<div class="yiv5503618240">As we work through governance issues,
I
want to remind us that the most important thing we could be doing right
now is ensuring the network is functional and viable. Just like a
business, poor customer service or public perception can set back our
ability to grow. I recommend bringing in operations consultants - such
as <span class="yiv5503618240">Hiawatha Broadband Communications in
Minnesota which has a strong reputation in this regard.</span><br>
</div>
<div class="yiv5503618240">This is a vulnerable time in the
creation of the network and we should not lose confidence in ourselves
at this moment. This is not a time to act hastily and out of fear. It
is a time for leadership, vision, and careful steps that continue to
ensure the network can be viable and grow in the public interest.</div>
<div class="yiv5503618240">Thank you for your attention to these
matters.</div>
<div class="yiv5503618240">Danielle<br>
</div>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
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