The City of New York

Queens Community Board 3

Technology Advisory Committee

Meeting Report

March 9, 2006

The committee met at Board 3’s district office from 7:30 PM to 9 PM, with the following attending:

Thomas Lowenhaupt, Committee Chair             Richard Cecere, Member, CB 3

Arthur Teiler, Member, CB 3                             Giovanna Reid, District Manager

Eugene Atkins, Resident Member                      Ellen Thompson, Reporter, Queens

John McHugh, Green Phoenix                               Tribune

Jeffrey Saunders, Jackson Hts. Garden              Donna Raymond, North Queens

   City Society                                                      Homeowners

Clair Speranza, North Queens                           Capers R. Johnson, Member, CB 3

   Homeowners                                                 Steve Kulhanek, Member, CB 3

The committee reviewed four items:

Audio Services – With iPods the rage, the committee discussed ways the board might effectively use audio to present board and community events to the public. Having acquired the necessary equipment (table top microphones) through the assistance of Giovanna Reid and the district staff, and with the expert technical assistance of Arturo Sanchez (Jr.) and Eugene Atkins, the committee was able to make its first digital recording of a board event, i.e., we recorded the voices of the meeting participants on a computer. We expect to make an audio file of our next meeting and make it available on our website. There are issues associated with this: e.g., what impact does it have on the availability of traditional text files, its role as an “official record,” impact on participation, and more. Suitable meta information about the file must be developed. But it’s possible that all board events could be recorded in the future, with those interested able to download the audio files from the board’s website.

The committee discussed the possibility of making maximum use of the new audio craze. Orlando Tobon has indicated that the radio equipment used by the now defunct radio station he initiated might be available for CB 3’s use. Richard Cecere and others expressed an interest in exploring the issue further. If you’re interested in discovering the possibilities of CB 3 Radio, contact Richard.

Network Neutrality – With AT&T reassembling itself and needing funds to implement its plans, there’s talk of charging Internet content providers for distributing their data. This might result in companies like Google being charged for distributing its search results and ads. And movie studios being charged for sending videos.

Network Neutrality is a big issue in Washington these days. Its meaning seems to change daily, but in general its proponents seek equal access to homes without distribution companies (telcos and cable) able to discriminate. Content producers talk about a level playing field, a competitive market, and rapid innovation. The distributors claim they won’t be able to build a globally competitive system without additional revenue. Consumer groups state that decisions now made by millions of Internet users will be made by a few monopoly distribution companies.  

Editorial pages are filled with opinions and lobbyists are filling up the Capitol. With the telcos and cable companies at one another’s throats and media giants seeking a smooth and inexpensive road to the nation’s homes, the chair suggested the committee focus on one small element of the debate: the impact it has on our community and community board.

How will local decision-making and the effective delivery of government services be changed if information producers (like the community board) are charged higher rates by distributors? Will Community Board 3 need a larger Internet budget? Will neighbors be able to share files of importance to the governance process? Does this create another world where only the moneyed class has access to the communication tools? Where does democracy fit in this new world? The committee will look to develop a statement of principles at its next meeting and pass these on to the board and with approval, to our federal legislators.

The chair presented a chart comparing the state of communication resources in Community District 3 and Terre Haute, Indiana where he attended college. The following Media Resource Comparison Chart shows dedicated mass communication resources available for use by the residents, businesses, and institutions within Terre Haute and Community District 3.

Media Resources Comparison Chart

Yes, we live in the "world's communications capital," and if something out of the ordinary happens in District 3, it will be flooded with cameras and reporters of almost unimaginable scope. But the mundane daily needs of our community are of little interest to the "capital" media. The New York Times doesn’t report on a downed tree, tardy garbage pickup, the opening of a new pizza parlor, or a little league club’s need for a coach. The source of the paradox becomes clearer when you realize that our "local" media isn’t quite local. For example, New York City's "local" TV stations serve an audience of 17,000,000. And with an average community district comprising less than 1% of its audience, “local” TV coverage of community issues is abysmal.

Without effective local media, most residents remain unaware of such civic fundamentals as the community district they live in, the community board's role, or the board that serves them. Equally problematic, the boards are unable to effectively communicate with those they serve, until the arrival of the Internet and its many opportunities. Some Internet statistics:

·      According to a Pew Foundation report, nationally, 75% of the population accesses the Internet at home, work, school, or library on a weekly basis.

·      2/3 of the population have Internet access at home.

·      And 2/3 of those have broadband (fast) access.

·      Capers Johnson reported that 80% of the residents of his six building co-op (Dorie Miller) have Internet access.

·      Community Board 3’s website had 2,619 unique visitors in February. 1,949 of these visited once and 670 visited more than once during the month.

.NYC Update – The city of Berlin is actively pursuing the use of .berlin top level domain name. Three representatives of the .berlin effort will be in Wellington, New Zealand later this month to press its case. But City Hall has not followed up on our 2001 Internet Empowerment Resolution calling for the acquisition of .nyc. What should we do? For perspective on city-TLDs, see the Silly FAQs at http://www.icannwiki.org/City_TLDs.

Modeling and Marketing Tools for Landing Lights Area Project – With strong interest by Landing Lights Park area residents and the board looking to make improvements to the area, we reviewed the modeling and marketing potential that virtual world technology can add to the effort.

The meeting included a visit to Democracy Island on secondlife.com where a model of the Landing Lights area has been created. Two park neighbors, Donna Raymond and Claire Speranzea thought the presentation helpful in understanding the role of advanced media in planning and presenting design options.

Reporter, Thomas Lowenhaupt

End.