Foothills Connect: Connecting Rutherford County

Pencil Labs

Pencil labs? We wouldn't think of such a thing ... It was a point made by former Governor Angus, King, Jr. of Maine in a keynote address to the Rutherford County Blue Ribbon 21st Century Commission inaugural meeting. A pencil can do most things a computers can do. It might take a little longer. But imagine if we confined students to just 45 minutes each day to a "pencil lab." It would be the only time they could use a pencil during the school day. So why do we limit students learning through the same allocation of computer access? What do you think?

The County Vision

Deskolicious 3.1
Originally uploaded by Glenn Wolsey

The vision remains ... Foothills Connect Board on September 16, 2008 reaffirmed their vision. Every, home, business, and location in the county will have fiber or better connectivity. We are committed to seeing that the important first step is taken ensuring that everyone has access to ultra-high speed connectivity along with free access for the slower speeds. It is essential to our current economic growth.

Now is the time to be fulfilling this vision. We can use your support. Please join us. What do you think?

Person to Person Loans

Deskolicious 3.1
Originally uploaded by Glenn Wolsey

Make more money or save more money ... It's the idea behind Prosper the website that connects people to people to loan money. The applicants information is there: purpose, credit rating, ratio of debt to income and more. This connection allows people to borrow money at a lower rate and for investors to put away money at a higher rate. Check out Prosper and let me know what you think.

Thanks to PANGAEA

It is through the vision and dogged dedication of PANGAEA board that Rutherford County Schools are now connected with fiber. Previously all school connections went through 1 DSL and 1 T1 line. That was all. For a number of years a handful of volunteers have been guiding a wonderful group know as PANGAEA. It is through their perseverance that our schools now enjoy their ultra high speed connectivity. Thanks to these folks for their vision and for provided the new umbilical cord for the county.

The Vision

Blue Sun
Originally uploaded by D.James | Darren Ryan

The vision should be clear for Rutherford County.

Ultra-high speed connectivity for everyone. That's it. Anything less creates a strong divide economically, socially, and developmentally. Everything we do should be clearly aimed at fulfilling this vision. For now it appears the best way to achieve this is through fiber connections for everyone: business and personal. Fiber is the technology that will carry our future communications. It's speed is restricted only by the technology we place on either end. It is time for us to continue to reach for this vision. What do you think?

Thanks to Senator Dalton

Senator Walter Dalton is the somewhat quiet facilitator of our changes. It is what our elected officials should be doing, but he does it quietly and effectively. He works behind the scenes and we find ourselves the beneficiaries of many great programs. Often these programs are great proving grounds as they are taken statewide. Foothills Connect is an example of how his persistence has created this great movement that is leapfrogging our area in front of the world's technology.

Now he is running for Lt. Governor and we are grateful. We are grateful because he understands the needs of the state. Grateful because he listens to people and hears what they say. Grateful because Walter Dalton is not a politician but a statesman. A dedicated senator whose primary goal was to help people not himself. We are grateful that someone of such great skill and understanding of North Carolina is running for Lt. Governor. We wish him the best.