US/ND-3: Bona Fide Request Process
Bona Fide Request Process
Marty Tennant (marty@sccoast.net)
Mon, 09 Sep 1996 13:40:25 -0700
This post was originally sent to our SCIway listserv.
I wanted to share this with the group as an example of a process
that could be a checklist item for confirming that a bona fide
request, under USF parlance, had been made.
In other words, real community involvement in the process.
Marty
++++
Paul Lewis wrote:
I can't think of a better way for government agencies
to support civic development, economic development,
education, and greater citizen involvement in
improving the quality of life in local communities
than for agencies to use technology to facilitate
citizen access to taxpayer funded public data and
documents.
Using technology as an excuse for charging fees
undercuts all of these goals.
+++++++++
Paul,
Thank you for bringing this article to our attention.
IMO, it is important for citizens to have these issues discussed
in a community setting.
I am interested in seeing a Citizen's Communications Committee (CCC)
concept implemented in all counties in SC. Many communities are
doing this in various places in the US. Some are in the form of
Cable TV advisory boards that go across municipal boundaries. Lately
their scope has been broadened to include emerging technology
convergence issues.
I believe that the county librarian should be responsible for bringing
this to a seed stage by inviting the appropriate parties and citizens
together in each county for a visit to the library. It would also help
to have the economic development official for the county involved. I am
not advocating the library driving this issue. Just getting the seed
going. The idea will be taken up and incorporated into something new, I
would hope, returning the librarian to their traditional, and changing,
role.
It is imperative that all community, government and county businesses
viewpoints be solicited and incorporated.
We are in the process of doing this in Georgetown County, thanks to
the initiative of our County Economic Development Director, David
Sandora.
David has arranged a "Telecommunications Forum" for Sept. 17th.
He has GTE, Horry Tel. Coop., AT&T, Time-Warner Cable, Ted Lightle
and me as presenters, in what should be an interesting public
relations parade. I am personally not above such tactics, and will
be pushing my consulting services.
David is concerned that 20 years from now, our kids may be sitting
around wondering why we didn't start planning for the future back
in the late nineties.
I hope the librarians on the list will share this with others
concerned about the future of their county's information
infrastructure. The CCC concept is needed to bring information
related issues to the county planning radar screen in our State.
It would be nice to see the Councils of Government resources used here
too. It would also be great to see some involement in the Universal
Service issues before the PSC. Unfortunately, I can't even participate
unless they issue a variance to their rules. Seems that the last date
to file for intervenor status in the scheduled PSC Universal Service
Docket late in October was last February.
Back to the CCC. What if we were to invite into our SCIway discussions
this important component of the South Carolina pool of talent -
Librarians? Every one in all 46 counties?
Would the current county librarians on SCIway respond and make them-
selves known? I believe you have an important calling before you.
Also, does anyone keep up with email addresses for librarians
in the State?
Marty Tennant
President
Low Tech Designs, Inc.
"Bringing Technology Down to Earth"tm