McMath-Hulbert Observatory / Wireless Oakland Site

Folks:

I just wanted to let everyone know that Ed Hendry, John Iras and myself attended two days of the Wireless Oakland project presentation. This initiative is immersed in the development of creating and deploying a broadband "wireless cloud" over the entirty of Oakland County. We have discussed the possibility of having the observatory become a distribution point with the principals and they have concurred that this would be desirable.

This would allow the observatory to enjoy unlimited bandwidth reflecting all of our needs. Addtionally, the observatory would be a developer of content with regards to K-12 Education and various "digital divide" activities we have created and developed over the past several years with a particular focus on the City of Pontiac. I also invited representatives of Oakland Schools and the Pontiac mayors campaign manager (Rick Williams) to attend to become familiar with the initiative and the possibilities it would represent to their mutual efforts. All were in attendence.

This may become the "tipping point" for some very interesting opportunities for the observatory. To that end we will be creating a observatory "focus group" with the intent of developing a "pilot project" to research and test the possibilities reflecting the above. Please let me know what your thoughts might be.

Stay tuned, I think we are about to launch some sustainable elements of our strategic planning that may lead to our success in perpetuity on behalf of the observatory.

Best,

Jim