Filed Thursday, August 2. 2007
“Why does a wake-up call to take action have to come at the expense of people’s lives?”
Filed Wednesday, July 18. 2007
“You have heard of product dumping and its negative effects, what about labor dumping?” Are we really in a boom economy if thousands of highly skilled, graduate-degreed people in various disciplines, not just IT, are losing their jobs and having to take on jobs at one-third to one-half the pay? (If they are lucky)
Filed Thursday, June 21. 2007
With Chicago trying to add the Olympics to its list of great accomplishments, the city better include updating its network infrastructure and move beyond just a third-party Wi-Fi agreement. The “city that networks” has to look beyond national Wi-Fi comparisons and into the real competition of global cities that have significant investments in fiber.
Filed Wednesday, June 13. 2007
What do we get in exchange for passing HB 1500 in Illinois? Giving up local municipal negotiating rights for one statewide franchise agreement has to at least rank with the Indians selling off Manhattan for a couple trinkets and beads worth $22. It’s in the category of dumbest deals ever made.
Filed Wednesday, April 11. 2007
Some states, including Illinois, are looking at passing statewide bills that will give AT&T the ability to have one statewide franchise in order to put in Project Lightspeed or U-verse without having to negotiate with each municipality.
Filed Wednesday, September 20. 2006
This week marks the third and fourth hearings on affordable Internet access for all Chicagoans by Mayor Daley’s Advisory Council on Closing the Digital Divide. Hopefully what the council will get out of the testimonies is that Chicago needs to wake up and realize that network infrastructure is as basic to the viability of supporting the city’s growth as transportation infrastructure was 150 years ago and is still today.
Filed Wednesday, September 6. 2006
While “location, location, connectivity” is more and more becoming the new rule of thumb in real estate, it’s not the only measure. There are many areas trying to rush into making their network infrastructure more viable to attract and maintain a higher level of businesses. In a recent study, Silicon Valley comes up short in ranking good technology hubs (even though the area has a lot to offer). Silicon Valley is investing in revitalizing network infrastructure, but as you will read below, network infrastructure is only one piece of the economic development puzzle.
Filed Thursday, August 17. 2006
With all the domestic and global issues going on right now, it could be helpful for tomorrow to understand how the world’s leaders viewed issues in yesterday’s critical moments. They are worth applying to your position in management, education or politics.
Filed Wednesday, July 19. 2006
While there is a lot of interest and rhetoric when it comes to getting up to speed with broadband services in Illinois, a true framework just hasn’t been thought out yet let alone built. As mentioned in a previous column: “Well-intentioned politicians and municipal administrators are not enough to build cohesive, reliable networks.” This really struck home as feedback came in from various people who think some municipal wireless enthusiasts have “only read a book on first aid but they think they are now ready for brain surgery”.
Filed Wednesday, July 5. 2006
OAK BROOK, Ill. – At last week’s municipal wireless conference put on by SkyPilot Networks at Hamburger University in Oak Brook, Ill., Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn made some good statements to rally municipal attendees. He said we need to focus on high-speed Internet if we are going to make a difference.
Filed Wednesday, May 24. 2006
CHICAGO – When there was a monopoly phone service prior to the 1984 divestiture, the prime directive in providing telecom was to “give exclusivity in the territory and we will provide universal service to everyone”. In exchange for getting exclusivity to a geographic subscriber base, the traditional phone companies ensured that everyone got service to their house or business at a fair price. There was one price across the board. That worked very well and the network infrastructure in the United States was second to none worldwide.
Filed Thursday, May 18. 2006
There are many municipalities around the Midwest looking for new ways to increase sales tax revenues. Some are into the traditional approaches of bringing in developers to develop open lands and renovate old structures. Others are trying to entice businesses with tax incentives and reduced fees to relocate a business within their municipalities. This is a common practice with even large municipalities in Chicago giving away tax incentives and adjusting building codes to help shore up the loss of commerce. Few, though, are looking at simple remedies. As I have stated for many years: “Leading-edge organizations do not maintain their position using trailing-edge technologies.” The same goes for municipalities. Leading-edge municipalities will not maintain their tax base by restricting the use of applying technology – such as electronic signs – to generate sales.
Filed Wednesday, April 5. 2006
Since this topic was suggested, quite a bit of feedback rolled in on a DSL Reports discussion thread. “Are they delivering what they are charging for with these various broadband products?” “What speed are you really running at on your PC? Have you ever checked?” “Are you getting a half T-1 for a full T-1 price?” Comments from various people on the thread ranged from very observant to very lame. One comment captured at least some type of everyday analogy that needs to be applied to this situation:
Filed Wednesday, March 29. 2006
As more people are very concerned about their jobs and others taking them (for reasons ranging from they are better skilled to they are just cheaper to hire), let’s talk about H-1B openings again. Contrary to the great employment numbers blared out on news programs every week, there are many people who are still out of work in the IT and telecom areas. Going from a $90,000 job at Motorola in 2001 to jobs paying no more than $27,000 in the last five years, a reader asked me if the economy has really gotten any better. It hasn’t for him. For others, it is turning dark as well in various industries.
Filed Friday, March 24. 2006
With all the recent discussions, testimonies and other rhetoric given by spokespeople from the incumbent telephone companies, cable companies, their opponents as well as their lobbyists, we should be asking this simple question: “Are they delivering what they are charging for with these various broadband products?” What speed are you really running at on your PC? Have you ever checked? Are you getting a half T-1 for a full T-1 price?
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