[KLUG Members] Broadband Presentation in Lansing

[Adam Williams]

>>I was at a presentation today by some top dogs in the Governors Office and 
>>the Public Service Commission where they announced that bills have been 
>>passed which will make it more attractive for broadband providers to invest 
>>in infrastructure in Michigan. 
>At least a couple of KLUG memebers and open source advocates from other parts 
>of Michigan were involved in the hearings and provided testimony. The feeling
>has been that this is important legislation, and we need to be aware of these
>recently passed laws, so we can understand what may be coming in broadband
>offerings in the area.

If there is someone very knowledgable about such things they are welcome
to present "Recent developements in the telephone industry".  From my
nosing about I'm certain at least 1/3 of KLUG attendees are responsible
for or at least work with WAN circuits leased/purchased/ransomed from
the Ma-Bell hive mind.  And "everyone" used broadband.

>>The most significant part of this presentation was when...
>>on a cell phone for help to get a Windows machine going.  In 
>>front of 500 people!  *** :^p
>Amusing. Some of those closed-source, binary only alternative platforms
>seem to have these difficulties. 
>>Maybe we need to start lobbying for open source in state government!
>Maybe?
>Officially, KLUG can't "lobby" in the formal sense of the term, but we CAN
>"educate, inform, and orient" governemnt officials at all levels about 
>any issue we feel is important. I would suggest that anyone who wishes 
>to perform this kind of service join our advocacy list, where we can 
>discuss this sort of activity. As individuals, we can make our views heard
>on several public policy issues relating to information processing and 
>technology, including Free Software, intellectual property rights, licensing
>issues, and so forth.

We have an inschool list for "advocating" Open Source in public (or
otherwise I suppose) schools.  See our mailling list page.

Aside:
And while we are on the subject I'd like to find a Mac-Freak who would
be interesting in donating a little time to look at an elderly Mac that
is deployed in a large public institution that is supposedly concerned
with the education of young humanoids.  That particular organization
doesn't support the box, they just dump it off,  and it is very
troubled.  I know nothing worth knowing about Macs.  Of course this
isn't in a "Public School", because even if they don't support it, it is
against the rules for anyone else to do so either.  And I would never
advocate violating the rules of such a well-respected institution. ;)