Topic 30: Developing a Telecommunications Resource Center By: Saturday working group (teluride) on Sun, Jul 25, '93 17 responses so far Session: Developing a Telecommunications Resource Center Convener: Sandy McCune Westin Participants: Jerry McCarthy, Lee Felstenstein SMW: I wanted to convene this session to explore the possibility I saw in a description I read recently about the Washington State Office of Energy. That agency has developed a pilot program of advocacy and education in support of telecommuting throughout their region. Could Colorado benefit by having such an office, possibly incorporating telecommuting and other aspects of telecommunications usage? 17 responses total. Topic 30: Developing a Telecommunications Resource Center # 1: Jerry McCarthy (teluride) Sun, Jul 25, '93 (00:26) 6 lines I see the need for industry-specific consulting services for those businesses who want to see if telecom has worked for other businesses like their own. I've also seen, however, that telecommuting per se cannot take the place of face-to-face meetings in most business relationships. Most decision makers do not make use of online services, or modem-based communications. Topic 30: Developing a Telecommunications Resource Center # 2: Lee Felsenstein (teluride) Sun, Jul 25, '93 (00:27) 6 lines I agree. In the past I've been interested in the possibility of creating a "skunkworks" business, providing contractual support services in administration and space usage for contractors. A similar idea could serve the needs of "lone eagles", working at modem-based cottage industries. Through a system of satellite centers, this could address some of their needs for social interaction - an ongoing problem. Topic 30: Developing a Telecommunications Resource Center # 3: Sandy McCune Westin (teluride) Sun, Jul 25, '93 (00:27) 2 lines Both face-to-face and online meetings seem to be important for business operation then. Topic 30: Developing a Telecommunications Resource Center # 4: Lee (teluride) Sun, Jul 25, '93 (00:28) 6 lines I think online meetings can best serve as preparations for f-2-f meetings, making sure that the groundwork has been prepared in people being acquainted with one another, agendas being set, preliminary information sharing done, etc. That kind of prep work can really pave the way for effective meetings, though I don't know of many businesses using them for such a purpose. Topic 30: Developing a Telecommunications Resource Center # 5: Sandy (teluride) Sun, Jul 25, '93 (00:29) 13 lines The kinds of services I envision being provided by a Resource Center include 1) Education: - of adults as knowledge works; in curriculum development for distance learning; in youth education interaction 2) Economic Development - providing a research and advisory service for businesses exploring telecommuting as an option, for development or attraction of information-processing based businesses in rural areas, for informing and supporting potential lone eagles, 3) Community Networks - serving as a clearinghouse of ideas and experience among communities interested in developing community-based networks 4) Advocacy - serving as a voice for the development of information infrastructure through emerging policy, legal, and technical trend. Topic 30: Developing a Telecommunications Resource Center # 6: Lee (teluride) Sun, Jul 25, '93 (00:29) 3 lines I'm wondering if there might be some of that which could be provided as a commercial service. Topic 30: Developing a Telecommunications Resource Center # 7: Sandy (teluride) Sun, Jul 25, '93 (00:30) 3 lines There are consultants who specialize in facilitating businesses moving into use of telecommunications. Some aspects of what I'm talking about are very similar to either consulting, or being an information brokerage. Topic 30: Developing a Telecommunications Resource Center # 8: Lee (teluride) Sun, Jul 25, '93 (00:31) 3 lines Perhaps there is a need for serving businesses as a referral agency to help them find the specific consultants in this area that they need. Topic 30: Developing a Telecommunications Resource Center # 9: Jerry (teluride) Sun, Jul 25, '93 (00:32) 5 lines The state library system could serve as a collector and disseminator of information like the clearinghouse function you're talking about. The capability exists today, however there is not enough money or staff to carry out the idea well. Doing such a service poorly could be worse than not doing it at all! Topic 30: Developing a Telecommunications Resource Center # 10: Lee (teluride) Sun, Jul 25, '93 (00:32) 7 lines There are mistakes that have been already made which communities should learn from without having to re-invent them. Mistakes such as "build it and they will come" - it doesn't happen. Like putting the information in from the top: the motivation on the part of the end user isn't there unless (have the information come from the providers - those motivated to get their ideas out there.) Topic 30: Developing a Telecommunications Resource Center # 11: Sandy (teluride) Sun, Jul 25, '93 (00:32) 5 lines According to our friend John Naisbitt, there are three stages involved in the acceptance of a new technology. First comes acceptance at the level of play, second is replication of what a previous technology was capable of , but in the new technology, and third and finally comes exploration and application of the unique capabilities of that new technology. Topic 30: Developing a Telecommunications Resource Center # 12: Jerry (teluride) Sun, Jul 25, '93 (00:33) 20 lines I see another three-stage model that applies also. First comes heterodoxy - that stage when everyone says "No way, it'll never fly." Next comes hyperdoxy - when everyone gets charged up about it and imagines how it has unlimited possibilities. Third, and finally, comes orthodoxy - when the commercial and/or governmental institutions establish norms and limits on its use, eliminating all other possibilities and creative adaptations. I think we have hyperdoxy setting in about telecommunications - that means that orthodoxy is probably right around the corner. The need for this Resource Center you're talking about is right now - when there is still an expanding awareness of this medium's possibilities, and before rigidity sets in. Now is when we can create an infectious model of diffusing innovation. For example, Chambers of Commerce have done that in creating their leadership programs - something that is much sought after as a means of business networking and empowerment. If you could add a component on appropriate use of information technologies in business into their curriculum it would draw the interest and awareness of business and community leadership. Topic 30: Developing a Telecommunications Resource Center # 13: Sandy (teluride) Sun, Jul 25, '93 (00:34) 5 lines That's a great idea. By the way, it's been suggested to me by more than one person that this Resource Center shouldn't be confined to Colorado, but be made a regional office, serving the needs of all the Southwest states. Yet I'm hearing from speakers here this weekend that the current offices (and grant money sources) are state-based. Topic 30: Developing a Telecommunications Resource Center # 14: Jerry (teluride) Sun, Jul 25, '93 (00:35) 22 lines I agree it should be available regionally, but the way to deal with reality is to go where the money is, so... don't include "Colorado" in the name, but initially serve the needs within this state. Once established, you can always expand to cover the Southwest, or even the West. The money will determine what scope is possible. And another thought along that line is to include university research programs as part of your program. The CU Masters program in telecommunications is doing some excellent research in this area, but they haven't the real-life applications knowledge needed to pull it off themselves. It would help your grant writing position to be able to say you're "working with" such a group rather than being a single person. JM: These services could perhaps include both a for-profit component, and a non-profit side. The non-profit side can serve needs that would be very attractive to grant sources. The built-in problem is that some of the best sources of grants are those technical commercial bodies like US West which shy away from technology-oriented programs because of trying to avoid conflicts with the PUC. That means you can be forced to go to the non-technically literate sources for grant moneys who, by their very nature, don't recognize the value of what you're offering. Topic 30: Developing a Telecommunications Resource Center # 15: Lee (teluride) Sun, Jul 25, '93 (00:35) 3 lines Consumer information service can provide something of real value to the marketplace. A price can appropriately be set on that service. Topic 30: Developing a Telecommunications Resource Center # 16: Jerry (teluride) Sun, Jul 25, '93 (00:36) 7 lines I really encourage you to pursue this idea further, Sandy. I think there's a real need for what you're talking about here. The market should not be overstated, however. Computer communication literacy is still relevant to only a small component of the public - but what you're offering can make a substantial difference in that, augmenting a trend that is trying to happen anyway. Topic 30: Developing a Telecommunications Resource Center # 17: Sandy (teluride) Sun, Jul 25, '93 (00:36) 1 line Thanks for your input and your encouragement. Stay tuned! .