<May 23, 2009>
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Ed Dodds <
Dr. Boubakar Barry <
Steve Song <
Philipp Schmidt <
References:
(a) (05/28/08) Japanese $4 billion for Trans-Africa transportation infrastructure
(b) (05/20/08) Follow-up on the Idea for Trans-Africa Ultra High Speed Optical Fiber Network
(c) (02/14/08) Idea for Trans-Africa Ultra High Speed Optical Fiber Network
Dear Ed:
(1) Many thanks for your msg (ATTACHMENT I).
“Rep. Eshoo 'Gets It': Files Legislation Requiring Fiber Optic Conduits in Federal Highway Projects”
Representative Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) says as follows with this forward looking legislation;
“Anything we can do to reduce the barriers to deployment and increase investment and competition for broadband will make our country more connected, more competitive, and more prosperous. This simple, commonsense proposal will actually do a great deal to connect more Americans to more affordable, higher quality broadband connectivity.” (Emphasis by T. Utsumi)
I read it with great interest — as the conduit construction, pole attachment policies, and local public rights-of-way (ROW) permitting are literally the bricks and mortar of broadband networks.
Dear Boubakar:
(2) I think that the above principle would also apply to our proposed Trans-Africa Ultra High Speed Optical Fiber Network along with the super highway among African countries which is to be constructed with the US$4 billion pledged by the Japanese government at the TICAD IV conference in Yokohama last spring < as mentioned in the References above.
According to your 8/19/08 msg, you kindly conveyed this idea to high official of the African Union (AU) in Ethiopian Ministry of Education who has a good connection to the President of the AU, as saying that African should not miss this “Extraordinary Opportunity.”
I would greatly appreciate it if you can contact this Ethiopian high official again with the above information of Ms. Eshoo.
This is because the US$4 billion pledged by the Japanese government for the construction of the super highway in African continent would better be utilized at full effectiveness.
Dear Steve:
(3) It has been long time since we met at the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) in Tunis in the fall of 2005. Hope everything is going well and fine with you.
Philipp suggested that I should solicit your help for pushing this idea of Trans-Africa Ultra High Speed Optical Fiber Network. I would greatly appreciate it if you can kindly talk this matter with Boubakar. I would then be very happy to liaise with the Japanese government, if necessary.
I think that this project would well go along with your previous request to me to raise US$1 million from the Japanese government to Boubakar’s Association of African Universities (AAU) so that they can have an equity in the Eastern African Submarine System (EASSY) to obtain a favorable discount rates for their member universities accessing broadband Internet through the EASSY — or this could be a newly announced SEACOM.
Looking forward to receiving your response soon,
Best, Tak
ATTACHMENT I
From: Ed Dodds <
Organization: Conmergence
Reply-To: Ed Dodds <
Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 15:22:34 -0500
To: Tak Utsumi <
Subject: The US finally glimpses the logic of fiber drops and road construction
Best regards,
Ed Dodds
Evangelist, Strategist, Web Developer, Writer
(615) 557-3975
collaboration, communication, convergence
Conmergence.com
List of Distribution
Ed Dodds
<Conmergence/>
PO Box 210735
Nashville, TN 37221-0735
P: 615-301-8507
S: ed_dodds_skype
Dr. Boubakar Barry
Coordinator, Research and Education Networking Unit
Association of African Universities (AAU)
P.O.Box 5744 Accra North, Ghana
Tel: (233)21 774495/761588
Mobile: (233)24 6682059
Fax: (233)21 774821
Website:
Steve Song
Manager of IDRC's Information and Communications Technology for Development (ICT4D) programs in Africa
International Development Research Center (IDRC)
250 Albert Street/rue Albert
PO Box 8500
Ottawa, ON, Canada K1G 3H9
Phone: (613) 236-6163 ext. 2268
Mobile: +1 613 799 1152
Cel: idrc.ca/crdi.ca
Fax: 613-567-7749
Philipp Schmidt
University of the Western Cape, South Africa
United Nations University - MERIT
Skype: iphilipp
Mobile: +27 83 460 3777
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* Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D., P.E., Chairman, GLOSAS/USA *
* (GLObal Systems Analysis and Simulation Association in the U.S.A.) *
* Laureate of Lord Perry Award for Excellence in Distance Education *
* Founder and V.P. for Technology and Coordination of *
* Global University System (GUS) *
* 43-23 Colden Street, Flushing, NY 11355-5913, U.S.A. *
* Tel: 718-939-0928; Email: *
*
* U.S. Federal Tax Exempt ID: 11-2999676 <
* New York State Tax Exempt ID: 217837 <
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