Remarks by Mark Culverhouse to the Sauk County Communications Infrastructure Committee

September 1, 2004 Spring Green Fire Station

I would like to discuss communications infrastructure, economic development and cost-benefits. This committee wants to spend $6 million dollars to improve emergency communications, but it hasn't demonstrated that the residents will receive any benefit. The police and fire departments keep good records of emergency incidents. How many of those were adversely impacted by the existing network. Without knowing this data is this spending necessary?

I am impressed with the technical expertise of Phil and Tim. They are capable of designing any network this committee decides to build. But this expensive network has very little benefit to the residents of this county. Anyone who owns a computer can go out and buy a new computer, that is twice as fast with twice as much memory, but if you only send emails there would be zero benefit. This new network may be better, but does it really provide any benefit?

Is the county building the wrong network? Today we face a dilemma of higher taxes and lower earnings. This new network accelerates that dilemma. An alternative network providing every resident with high-speed, wireless, Internet access would provide great benefits. Thousands of high-paying jobs are being outsourced to India because they have invested in high-speed networks.

With high-speed, Internet access we can work for any company in the world right here from our homes. If we fail to provide this benefit then we will go bankrupt driving farther to jobs that pay less. A high-speed, network that allows every resident in the county to communicate with the world from the home or the farm field is the same network that will allow our first responders to communicate, as well.

Mark Culverhouse
Spring Green
MoveTheTower@Highway60.com