Wi-Fi for Carroll County
August 19th, 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff
Although getting a conversation about Wi-Fi for Carroll County among the candidates for political office in this fall’s Carroll County elections has failed to get any traction, apparently it is being discussed as a campaign issue in our neighbor to the south, Howard County.
As I was grazing the blogs of my colleagues in Howard County, I came across this excellent post by Evan on the Howard County Blog: “Wi-Fi.”
In my column for the Westminster Eagle, I have written two pieces specifically on Wi-Fi, which has received enthusiastic response from readers, however, hardly a peep out of the candidates. (09/07/05 - If technology available, why not Wi-Fi? And 08/02/06 -Building ramps to information highway will pave the way to Carroll's future)
As a matter of fact, I am seeing little of substance out of many the candidates for office in Carroll County except a lot of bile.
Issues such as managing growth and development are being discussed as well as taxes. These issues are important – especially, well – both. I mean, it is imperative that we maintain a well-thought-out approach to growth in order to maintain what quality of life we have left in Carroll County.
Diversification of the tax base and over-all tax relief is also an important subject.
However, I’m seeing little conversation about growing our commercial and industrial tax base and most importantly – attracting jobs to Carroll County.
I have as little interest in more houses in Carroll County as the next person, however, that limited and well managed growth approach must not disallow appropriate business and employment base growth. Unfortunately that is just what is happening.
Of course, one of the best ways to thwart further erosion of our quality of life is to look for ways to support the business of agriculture in Carroll County and I’m not seeing much of that conversation either.
In the near future, if it is not already here, the issue of Wi-Fi will be a critical infrastructure, quality of life and business development issue in Carroll County.
A Columbia Flyer editorial on August 3rd, 2006, states accurately and succinctly:
“Like running water, electricity and cable television before it, wireless Internet capability will soon be widely considered a part of living and doing business in American communities.
Some day in the not-too-distant future, it'll likely be a utility that people take for granted.
Communities that don't have it will find themselves at a competititve disadvantage for attracting and retaining business and keeping residents happy.
So it's good to see that the three candidates for county executive all realize that and support efforts to lay the groundwork for widespread Wi-Fi in Howard. (emphasis mine)
Officials will have to find the answers to two pressing questions: What's required, and at what cost? The sooner they can accomplish that, the better.
But, make no mistake, this technology is coming. And in a few years, we'll probably be wondering how we lived without it.”
Read it again. This time, every time you see the word “Howard,” replace it with the word “Carroll.”
I did a search on “Wi-Fi” on the Westminster Eagle’s web site and came up with:
09/07/05 - If technology available, why not Wi-Fi? By Kevin E. Dayhoff
I've been fascinated with public Wi-Fi and all the possibilities it can provide Carroll County.
On Aug. 15, Silver Spring, in Montgomery County, announced that it now has...
08/02/06 - Building ramps to information highway will pave the way to Carroll's future 2006-08-02 00:00:00 Kevin E. Dayhoff Building ramps to information highway will pave the way to Carroll's future By Kevin E. Dayhoff
The politics and economics of roads, growth, development, bu...
09/21/05 - Letters
While the decision to take the Westminster Bypass off the county plan may come as a disappointment to the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce membership, it is clear that the commissioners did n...
09/21/05 - Report from the 'Left Coast' discovers (sort of) intelligent li 2005-09-21 00:00:00 Opinion Report from the 'Left Coast' discovers (sort of) intelligent li By Kevin Dayhoff
Greetings from sunny Southern California. I'm writing this week from the "Left Coas...
06/28/06 - What are local candidates for office proposing for the future of Carroll County? 2006-06-28 00:00:00 Kevin E. Dayhoff What are local candidates for office proposing for the future of Carroll County?
Many Carroll Countians are clamoring to hear discussions about plans and i...
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Meanwhile, I did a search on the Columbia Flyer’s web site on “Wi-Fi” and came up with:
08/03/06 - County catching on to Wi-Fi Internet
If the county ever offered free wireless Internet service in all of downtown Columbia, it would be a welcomed addition, Go said. p>Although senior county officials have made no formal plans to ...
03/27/03 - At a glance
Resident David Hlass is challenging incumbent Linda Odum for the Long Reach seat on CA's 10-member board.
The proposal, offered by County Council member Chris Merdon, now goes before the c...
08/03/06 - What is Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi, which stands for wireless fidelity, is a way certain devices can connect to the Internet outdoors without using wires.
Wi-Fi accessible devices, such as computers and personal digital as...
08/03/06 - Wi-Fi inevitable, and we need to be ready 2006-08-03 00:00:00 Opinion Wi-Fi inevitable, and we need to be ready OUR VIEW
Like running water, electricity and cable television before it, wireless Internet capability will soon be widely co...
02/16/06 - New Columbia health club flexes its muscles
Lifetime Fitness, a Minnesota-based health club conglomerate with facilities across the country, opened Feb. 9 on Lee DeForest Drive in east Columbia, about a two- or three-minute drive from Co...
06/17/04 - I-95 project may be wave of the future
The project is part of Maryland's strategic approach to provide assistance to tourists and business travelers and to show businesses that Maryland is on the technological cutting edge. p> If s...
We need to begin a meaningful conversation about Wi-Fi in Carroll County yesterday.
Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.
E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org
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