This informative workshop was presented by James Hettrick from Information Systems Management Solutions Inc. who has extensive experience building municipal communications networks.

Communications networks empower individuals and communities, foster economic development, and enhance competitiveness in the local, regional and national economy. Traditionally in Canada, these vitally important networks are owned and operated by private corporations who alone get to decide how fast the network will operate and consequently the types of services that can be offered and how the customers are able to use these networks Significant opportunity exists for the citizens of Medicine Hat to own and operate their own communications network utility.

New opportunities will help the city’s bottom line. By helping its citizens and businesses accomplish more with access to true high speed inter-networking technology we can reduce our dependence on non-renewable resources.

As a community leader, you are in a position to help our city boost economic development and increase its revenue. The City of Medicine Hat and surrounding communities can join the growing number of “Connected Communities” across the globe.

Broadband connectivity and communications infrastructure is rapidly becoming the Next Utility.

This workshop offered an educational opportunity to learn about how other municipalities around the world have been able to effectively and profitably participate in the communications needs of its residents.

Seminar Format & Objectives

1. Enjoy some good food and meet with other interested community leaders
   
2. An educational presentation on municipally owned communications networks will be presented
3. Other community success stories and failures will be discussed as well as the myriad of IP services and applications available today.
4. A portion of the seminar will be devoted to a Q&A dialogue to answer questions about communications networks, infrastructure planning, policy decisions and how to move forward.

Seminar Results

By the conclusion of the seminar, community leaders were impressed with the presentation and new ideas discussed such as:

• How can our city improve economic development, create jobs, and establish a long term source of revenue through a communications connectivity infrastructure initiative.
• Is our community lagging behind in its communications infrastructure?
  
• Should market forces alone dictate whether advanced connectivity is available for commercial and industrial economic development?
  
• How can we capitalize on intergovernmental assistance and/or partnering with private industry.
• How might our community benefit from immediate improvement in our communications connectivity services for public, commercial, and residential use.
  
• Can economic development and quality of life be dramatically improved when municipalities intervene with appropriate high speed connectivity?