ORTCC - Survey

Oregon Telecommunications Coordinating Council

Needs and Issues Survey

The last legislative session approved SB 765 and Governor Kitzhaber signed the legislation now incorporated into Oregon State Law as Chapter 699. The mission of the Council is stated in the following paragraph:

The Oregon Telecommunication Coordinating Council shall study alternative approaches to providing coordinated statewide, regional and local telecommunication services, including providing services to unserved or underserved areas of the state. In addition, the council shall study the manner in which telecommunication investments can be coordinated to facilitate partnerships between the public sector and the private sector and between state and local governments. The council shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and to the Joint Legislative Committee on Information Management and Technology. Oregon Laws 2001, Chapter 699, Section (10): http://www.leg.state.or.us/01orlaws/0699.pdf

The Oregon Telecommunications Coordinating Council (ORTCC) has started on this task. One of its first steps was a decision to seek input from as wide a range of knowledgeable persons concerning important needs and issues around the state. This online survey is one such step. The results will be incorporated into the public record for the ORTCC proceedings.

You can make contributions to the work of the ORTCC by filling out the survey and submitting it. Please feel free to send additional comments to the Chair, John Irwin (jirwin@mind.net), any of the members (see address list on the Member Page), or to the ORTCC as a whole. E-mails are welcome, and written letters can be sent to ORTCC, c/o Milo Mecham, LCOG, 99 E Broadway, Suite 400, Eugene, OR 97401-3111.

Name
Organization/Affiliation
Contact Information
Region or Area

Item 1 - Telecommunications opportunities and needs
What suggestions do you have for actions (e.g. ideas, projects, needs) that could benefit from "…coordinated statewide, regional and local telecommunication services, including providing services to unserved or underserved areas of the state" as well as "the manner in which telecommunication investments can be coordinated to facilitate partnerships between the public sector and the private sector and between state and local governments?"

Item 2 - Access to broadband telecommunications resources
What can we do to encourage broader distribution of telecommunications services (e.g., financial incentives to invest in rural and underserved areas)? How do we ensure that residential service offerings are available as well as commercial or government offerings?

Item 3 - Affordability
What is an appropriate definition of affordability? How do we address affordability as well as profitability while ensuring sustainability?

Item 4 - Public/Private Coordination
System developers are working to provide broadband access in Oregon. The most efficient use of public and private resources would suggest cooperation and coordination wherever possible. Public/private arrangements provide interesting possibilities and pose challenges. What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages of a closer public-private relationship?

Item 5 - Usage/demand
Many areas experience low demand for broadband services. These low demand rates result in extremely difficult business cases from a sustainability point of view. How can we educate/excite businesses and residents to integrate the use of these services into their lives to not only build demand but to also improve business profitability and community quality of life?

On behalf of the members of the ORTCC, I thank you for investing your time in completing this on line questionnaire and for your contribution to the future of all Oregonians.

John Irwin
Chair, Oregon Telecommunications Coordinating Council
jirwin@mind.net

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This page was prepared by the Lane Council of Governments
This page last updated: March 5, 2002