Norsk News 3/29/23
Attendance: S Bollig, S & F Wallitsch, P Zalucha, J Burns, J Steinhauer, P Christian, K White, S Smith, E Grabe
Guests: John Van Ooyen, Mark Wallitsch
Happy Bucks
Keith: only 3 weeks until taxes are over.
Shawn Brianna who will be graduating from law school has a job in California she created helping native American tribes.
Her other daughter Jeanna who lives in Medellin is going to visit Gabriella in Quito Ecuador.
Susan Smith is happy for her trip to Asheville NC to confirm that Spring is coming. She also is happy for our guest speaker John Van Ooyen who is here to discuss Internet accessibility in rural areas.
Student Rotarians are on spring break.
Announcements
Paul from fundraising reminds us about collections on our super brunch ads.
RYLA applications have extended to April.
April 5th Chamber of commerce Good morning Moho at 8 am at Martinson Hall. Next month’s meeting we will be making a presentation.
Tech task force will be meeting at 1:00 after our noon meeting April 12.
Grant Applications: We have more applications due to extended deadline.
Decisions will be made in April with presentation during our 5th Wednesday event in May.
End of April book club, stay tuned for date and time. Discussion will be on Maggie Ginsberg’s book, “Still True”.
2 Rotary International trainings are coming up online.
Our district is doing a 5th Wednesday District orientation. If you need a refresher or are new to Rotary this event is for you. Contact Susan for how to join the event.
Guest speaker notes from John Van Ooyen, General Manager and CEO at MHTC.
Broadband in rural areas. (If you have challenges with rural broadband make sure to read section "How to get involved")
MHTC received Calix’s Marketing Giant award for local broadband as best out out of 950 customers competing for the award. There is Calix swag available if anyone is interested. Calix has been a trusted partner with MHTC. MHTC received the Marketing Giant award recently as well.
MHTC started in 1895. John is the 4th general manager. Business model is a customer centric focus.
Bandwidth and Speed challenges of delivering data to meet demands for gaming, streaming video.
Wireless networks
Older generations of WiFi versus WiFi 6 many devices are not of the highest conductivity. Purchase new devices with updated WiFi for best performance.
2.4 GHz slower speed and longer range of 300’ radius.
For best performance place routers in the center of the main floor for best coverage
In 3 years the amount of bandwidth has doubled.
80% of worldwide internet traffic is video
25-30% of the workforce will be working from home
Personal security: MHTC will not sell your data to any 3rd parties. PCI compliance, upgrading cybersecurity and ransomware
Rural Broadband: Equity access and deployment for customers in fairly remote areas.
How to get involved:
Go to https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/home
Check out your address on the FCC map
Look at providers on the right side. If you believe there is a button to do a location challenge if the providers are not willing to accommodate.
Dispute if the map does not reflect the level of service you are currently receiving. Challenge your rating.
Concerns with Federal BEAD (Broadband Equity and Deployment)
- FCC map is not accurate
- Taxes due on the grant money. Challenge for smaller markets with smaller consumer base.
- Cost to do business in Dane County.
- Davis Bacon Act to make sure contractors are being paid a wage on scale with the costs of living in the area.
- Post grant federal reporting requirements: are hard on smaller corporations versus AT&T and large providers.
- Challenges with copper wiring.
- Fiber side the challenges of distance are not as great. Any new installations are made of fiber. Currently testing millimeter wave which is like WiFi on steroids which can deliver fiber-like speeds at 500/500 gig (which works over 300' and is line of sight) which works better for subdivisions.
Recent grant round with Town of Blue Mounds ($50k). Collaborative effort with township and private companies. Blue Mounds 10% of the project cost was rock boring.
Meeting adjourned 12:59 and presentation continued past 1:12 pm