News & Press Releases:
Digital Rio Dell sets the pace for community broadband
Several months ago a non-profit, public and private partnership launched a futuristic project called Digital Rio Dell that created Humboldt County's first redundant municipal broadband connection.
With this project, Rio Dell became the first city in the region with the capability to avert Internet interruptions caused by the type of fiber optic line breaks that have plagued California's North Coast. Internet service for Digital Rio Dell is provided by 101 Netlink, a tier 2 digital service company based in southern Humboldt County.
The Digital Rio Dell project also created a municipal wireless broadband network that offers free WiFi access at City Hall (including the Police Station), the Public Library and the Fire Hall. The City plans to expand the wireless network to serve other municipal purposes - including public health, safety and welfare.
"A redundant Internet connection is very important," said City Manager Nancy Flemming. "Broadband access to the Internet is essential infrastructure for the future of Rio Dell, as much as it is for the entire North Coast. Our city is delighted to have partners who share our commitment to build public
service networks that give our residents access to digital communications."
Access Humboldt conceived the project in collaboration with the city of Rio Dell and local companies, including Carlson Wireless, 101 Netlink, C4i Security and Security National Servicing Corp.
Digital Rio Dell is meant to provide a model for non-profit partnerships that can be replicated to help develop PEG Broadband serving other local communities in Humboldt County.
Said Rob Arkley, owner of Security National Servicing Corp. and a Board member of Access Humboldt, "Security National is proud to sponsor Digital Rio Dell. We're helping to prove the potential of public-private partnerships to build next-generation digital media for local communities."
Digital Rio Dell is a unique model for the future of community broadband in several respects ...
First, the project is managed by a local non-profit that is committed to public, education and government (PEG) access, Access Humboldt, whose mission is "local voices through community media." As such, Digital Rio Dell is on the leading edge of a national movement known as PEG Broadband, or Community Broadband - where the empowerment of local voices is central to the mission.
And Digital Rio Dell is a completely local project - all of the funding is from local sources, and all of the private businesses involved are locally owned and locally controlled. This is surprisingly uncommon - a community network providing municipal broadband service that is 100% locally owned and locally managed through a community based non-profit.
Prominent examples of municipal WiFi and community broadband projects around the U.S. typically involve absentee investors and businesses that plan to remove profit from the local economy. Whereas Digital Rio Dell is designed to create benefits specifically for the local community - including economic development.
Mayor Bud Leonard applauded Access Humboldt and the Digital Rio Dell project. "Rio Dell is happy to step forward and offer free public access to the Internet - thanks to the council and our visionary city manager, our future is very bright."
Access Humboldt is a community based organization that is committed to continue working with local companies to build network infrastructure for Public, Education and Government agencies - including the county and local cities, along with community service districts, school districts and others.
With partners like Carlson Wireless Technologies, 101 Netlink, and C4i Security - all based in Humboldt County - the future for local PEG Broadband serving the Redwood Coast promises continuing and sustainable community re-investment.
Carlson Wireless CEO Jim Carlson said, "The Digital Rio Dell project creates an excellent platform for developing next-generation Internet applications to improve public health, safety and education. We support this local effort and look forward to bringing future innovations, including WiMAX and digital media applications."
Based in Arcata, Carlson Wireless Technologies Inc. creates innovative broadband access and backhaul products to deliver Internet access, telephone and public safety/security solutions worldwide. CWT is committed to "Bridging the Digital Divide."
"We started talking about our different perspectives and now we all collaborate on a regular basis, regarding the region as well as other technology," said Scott Joachim of C4i Security, explaining that he is very interested in helping to solve the "last-mile" issue, establishing reliable North Coast broadband redundancy. C4I Security, based in Eureka, delivers turnkey video systems integration, network design, enterprise storage, virtualization, and information security solutions.
Access Humboldt is a non-profit community service organization created in 2006 to manage cable franchise benefits from Suddenlink Communications for the County of Humboldt and the Cities of Eureka, Arcata, Fortuna, Rio Dell, Blue Lake and Ferndale. Community access resources include cable TV channels, local network connections, and a new community media center being constructed at Eureka High School. For more information visit http://accesshumboldt.net
Sean McLaughlin, executive director of Access Humboldt, has presented expert testimony on media access and civic media around the world. He is a leading proponent of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which guarantees freedom "to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."
