In thinking about NewGov and the many meetings we've had statewide on rural broadband issues, at this moment the continuing statewide effort dedicated to address what many see as market failures evidenced by duopoly control of the metro areas coupled with inconsistent success in delivering broadband to the most economically challenged areas where need has been demonstrated for more than a decade: (a) is a problem that transcends the capabilities of our system - it has been persistent and perduring despite many committed attempts by people of very high intelligence and integrity; (b) as we discussed on a statewide basis in Breckenridge a couple of weekends ago, the law right now is all thumbs when it comes to dealing with the most critical issues of public funding - (i) verifiably determining actual need; (ii) ensuring that public assets are used on an open basis; (iii) ensuring that the concept of open means cost-based so that competitors are not priced out of using public assets resulting in a winner-take-all scenario which in this deregulated era leaves consumers with ZERO legal recourse or practical ability to discipline monopoly rent-seeking; (iv) ensuring that those in greatest need - the most uneconomic and unsustainable of locations - are served (we are, after all a single nation and we do look out for one another); and (v) that this is done in ways that supports rather than harms vibrant economic activity. Too often politics appears to tread where facts fear to go. Lastly it is also a problem for which we the people share responsibility for fixing. We are a democracy of the people, by the people and for the people. This means, quite literally, that each and every one of us bears responsibility for the results the system provides and equally for offering solutions where the system is not working as well as it could.
As a result, when it comes to assisting our elected officials in their ability to discharge their duties to their constituent base, I believe that verifiable and trusted facts are critical to success. Our representatives must know where actual problems exist, what consensus solutions might be offered and they absolutely must know that this is an issue that their verified constituents - yes verified by a third party - actually care about. If we can provide that to them, then we have done enormous service to the collective whole and have helped out government work better. Complaining is easy. Solutions require hard work and commitment. The good news is that there are so many in this state truly committed to public service, including all of our elected representatives, who are also subject to the limitations of the system and the extraordinary complexity of this patch of the public policy arena. And, to be fair, their staffs are overworked and often struggle to keep up with enormous torrents of data provided by no end of industry, economic, academic, legal and other experts. So it is extremely difficult work. We need to help them; we need to make their job easier. It is our responsibility and civic duty.
If, for example, constituents can demonstrate to their elected representatives on an integrated, concise, coordinated and validated solutions using actual data verified by these constituents who representatives are certain or reasonably certain are actually located in their districts, where the data is validated on a house-by-house, street-by-street level, where they can check and see pictures of infrastructure on streets in their locations, then our collective ability to solve these problems is eased by the clarity with which the facts are presented and the depth at which they are authenticated. If that platform also encourages collaboration and sharing of information between neighbors, businesses, schools and others on a local, district-level, regional, statewide basis, then the conversations become enriched and mutually informative. If it is also seamlessly integrated across social media, then communities may communicate with other communities, with their local businesses and with their local providers to examine, as a whole and from all perspectives the challenges presented and formulate new approaches.
We know this works. Dr. Rick Smith demonstrated this by working together with the SW COG, the SCAN, each of his local communities, all of the county executives and the providers in his area to come up with a consensus solution to their rural broadband challenges. You, Ken, Audrey, Tim and so many others have worked together in Routt and Moffat and counties throughout the northwest to create new solutions to local problems. Alan, Jon and Vince have all worked closely with their local communities to ensure that needs are reliably served and our mid-mountain counties are coming up with extraordinarily smart and creative solutions as evidenced by the smashing success of Crestone Telecom. Until now, however, none of you were in a position where you could share and collaborate using the same mapping platforms that our local, state and federal governments rely upon. And our elected representatives had no verifiable way of ensuring that the concerns expressed mattered as much to their constituents - to whom they are sworn to serve - as it did to the individuals or businesses, no matter how sincere and truthful. Now you can share and they can know for certain that the concerns expressed are those of their constituents as well.
As a result, I could not be more excited that some of the world's greatest Internet visionaries including those associated with Harvard Law's Berkman Center for the Internet and Society, but a host of dedicated and caring individuals including our erstwhile fearless leader and decorated Vietnam Veteran Mr. Britt Blaser - a man who knows more than most what representatives must sometimes feel like - he flew massive C-130s's in and out of combat zones under fire - have taken such a great interest in providing the citizens of this state with on -the-ground support directed toward making the entire system - imperfect as it may be - work just a little bit better.
We, as citizens, have an obligation to support our form of government and I am extremely excited that there is such interest in what we can do with NewGov. I believe that as LTPTs, businesses, county executives, local officials and conscientious individuals continue to collaborate statewide using these new, and hopefully improved tools, we can serve our elected representatives and make their jobs just a little bit easier.
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