[FARC] This is long, but please take a minute to read it

Thu Apr 3 08:31:04 EDT 2014

Good morning BOAR-NET Members and Amateur Radio Clubs,

I would like to report my activities over the past week or so. I also want
to acknowledge Kevin Sherwood, KB3PLX, the President of BRATS for inspiring
me to seek out those who might benefit from using what everyone is building
and wants to build. When I asked him to build a link between Baltimore and
Frederick Counties, he asked where the traffic would come from. I had no
answer. This is what I did to answer that question.

MY ASSUMPTIONS

First there are several assumptions I have made and, hopefully, they are
reasonably correct.

1. The ham community with others have an interest in building a broadband
wireless network which incorporates some if not all of, the following:
backhauals, point-to-point links, multipoint-to-point for distribution,
Wi-Fi, MESH, and other stuff.

2. One purpose for doing all this is to create an alternative wireless data
network with robust connections between links and fail proof internet
connectivity at various points within the network in order to support, among
other entities, ourselves, and the community at large, especially during
emergencies.  

3. It is desirable to lend this network to those who provide support during
emergencies and disasters.

4. We, hams, are an Army of Geeks. We are looking to increase our ranks from
old hams, new hams, the newly licensed, and the non-licensed. In other
words, we want help from anyone who is interested in what we are doing.

5. We need free vertical real estate for locating equipment throughout the
region.

6. We are good people. However, we all have our ideas, our differing
experiences and knowledge, differing agendas, and biases. BUT WE NEED TO
AGREE TO STANDARDS IN ORDER TO BUILD AN INTERCONNETED NETWORK.

7. We must take an all new view on how we will work together in order to be
really useful and dependable to the public. In other words, FOCUS. We must
be singular in purpose and very clear in how our clients work with us.

8. As hams, we are providing our enthusiasm, experience, and knowledge. We
are not providing our frequencies. Therefore, our activities do not fall
under the ARRL nor Part 97. Those restrictions have held us back in the past
and we finally have an opportunity to get out from under them when
implementing a wireless broadband system for use by unlicensed persons.
Certainly, part 97 rules apply when we also need to use our traditional data
and voice communication methods and frequencies to support emergency
communications. It's both - not one or the other.

9. I could go on and on, but you get the idea.

THE REPORT

I have had several significant conversations with the right people at the
Center for Health and Homeland Security (CHHS) at the Law Center at the
University of Maryland. I find it hard to believe that I finally found those
who can really influence government agencies, public safety, large
organizations, etc. in how to prepare and handle disasters and other
emergencies.  These are the experts who appreciate the ham community and,
especially, what we are beginning to do with broadband.

In talking to these folks, one thing becomes very clear: They want to deal
with a single entity (not me as an individual) that represents the Army of
Geeks.  It was agreed that this had to be a new entity (NGO and Nonprofit)
in order to have the proper energy, focus, and lack of history(baggage).

MY PLAN

I am forming a new Association. Trying to find a name with a domain that has
not been taken took hours. I ended up with PUBLIC-CONNECTIONS.ORG and
PUBLIC-CONNECTIONS.NET

This is an association of groups, clubs, businesses, faith-based
organizations, agencies, etc. IT IS NOT A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS nor is it an
Amateur Radio Organization. We hams are key to the success of this project
because of our knowledge and experience. It's our passion to build and
serve, plus we're volunteers.

Conceptually, local "clubs" would be the members. Each club would appoint a
representative to serve on the P-C Executive Committee. Eventually, the
committee would write by-laws and select officers for leadership. I am
appointing myself as the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR until it makes sense to replace
me.

In addition to members who are the designers, builders, and maintainers of
the new Alternative Wireless Data Network, the other members are the users
or the clients of what is being built.  It's these client members who will
support our efforts in getting the free vertical real estate we need to
mount antennas and radios.

ACTIONS TO TAKE

I am asking each of you to approach your organizations/clubs/groups to join
PUBLIC-CONNECTIONS. We need to present a single representative organization
to work with CHHS and others. Ideally, we will have enough clubs/groups with
over 300 individuals combined as part of P-C. These are serious numbers.

I am not asking for financial support from the groups. Although, at some
point, it will have to be addressed by the Executive Committee.

FINALLY

I know one thing. If this is a one-man show, it will fail.  Please join the
Army of Geeks.

WHY YOU ASK

I am of the opinion (yes, I have several) that since 911, our served
agencies feel the hams are no longer needed. We have been approaching them
improperly. A fresh new approach with a new organization of organizations
can work. Fortunately, it appears important folks at CHHS want to work with
us if we can get our act together.  This is a major first step in that
direction.

Respectfully submitted,

Richard Hayman, WN3R 

WN3R.US at gmail.com

PS The website is in the process of being built. I published it only to see
how it works. The design and words make no sense YET. UNDER DEVELOPMENT.
It's OK to visit, but do not send anyone to it. They will get the impression
I am an idiot. Thanks. (I could use some help with it)

PPS I read and reread the above. Please excuse any grammatical errors (I are
a engineer by education).

PPPS Feel free to forward to any MD, DC, VA, DE organization who might have
an interest in P-C.