Private sector-government projects are best for broadband
Private companies, working with
government, best route for broadband
I am writing in response to the Tuesday Philadelphia Inquirer article, “Should Local Governments Provide Broadband?”
Building broadband networks has proven to be a challenge, even for large, well-resourced and tech savvy companies. When municipalities attempted to deploy their own networks, complexities and challenges often led to failures or substandard deployments, according to a New York Law School study.
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Building the network is only a small piece of the puzzle. It takes time, talent and resources to maintain and update it continuously. In the case of failed municipal networks, it is the taxpayers who find themselves covering significant financial losses.
Government networks cannot scale as quickly as private networks, leaving end users with outdated technology. And in areas where private sector investment is viable and working, government networks often discourage investment.
The remarkable growth and quality of high-speed Internet access in the United States today is attributed to private sector investment and innovation. Since 1996, broadband Internet providers have invested more than $ 1.8 trillion in network infrastructure.
Members of the Ohio Telecom Associationlook forward to continuing to work with Governor Mike DeWine towards public-private partnerships as the preferred option to bridge the digital divide, affordable support for low-income households, and digital literacy efforts to increase adoption rates of the Internet by the people of Ohio.
Charles Moses, Columbus
After:How to Submit a Letter to the Editor for The Columbus Dispatch
It’s up to the parents to look after the children
on the right track, far from drugs, violence
Drugs, guns, gangs and the lack of adult supervision are the recipe for tragedy for any family, regardless of culture. It is also a recipe for many innocent families to be hurt.
So come responsible adults and parents – let’s teach our children good manners or manners to be responsible for their actions and stay away from those who do not care about the welfare of others.
Robert Hopkins, Hilliard
The first choice of the Ohio Senate should be
adopt the House schools financing plan
In 1997, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the state funding system “failed to provide for a comprehensive and effective system of common schools,” as required by the Ohio Constitution. .
The court ordered the state to find a remedy, but instead of following that direction, state leaders gradually broadened options for privatizing schools. By design, charters and vouchers divert state funding from school district budgets and force voters to replace that funding with local levies.
The bipartisan Cupp-Patterson Fair School Funding Plan was created in Ohio and endorsed for three years by a bipartisan team of elected leaders, school treasurers, and education finance experts. In 2021, the plan was introduced as a House 1 bill, and the Ohio House included it in its version of the state budget bill, which was then sent out. in the Ohio Senate.
Senate leadership felt the Cupp / Patterson Fair School fundraising plan was too costly and said there would be a lot more “choice of school” talk. The privatization of schools has been the main obstacle to the development of a comprehensive and effective public school system, as required by the Ohio Constitution.
It is time to fix the school funding system. By including HB1 in its budget bill, the Ohio House has worked to meet Ohio’s obligation to provide every public school district in the state with the resources it needs to deliver an education. high quality to every student.
The Ohio Senate is also to pass the Equitable Schools Funding Plan as drafted to ensure that adequate and equitable funding for Ohio school districts will ensure a comparable learning opportunity for all children.
Jeanne Melvin, Public Education Partners, Columbus
Thank you to the first responders who protect
us of the many horrors of the world
While discussing a book over dinner, my husband was shocked at my disbelief at the horrific acts of the drug cartels. (I was reading a controversial book that made my head spin.) He told me, “A lot of horrible things in this world are hidden.”
In digesting this bit of truth, I became overwhelmed with gratitude for the people who know about these terrible things and do not alarm the general public. Maybe I’m naive, obviously I’m naive, but I’m thankful that horrific acts are not in the foreground of my mind.
After:Opinion: Ohio and its economy better for ‘impossible decisions’ made by Mike DeWine during pandemic
I remember one day when my husband came home from work and could barely answer. He just said it was a tough day and needed some space. I later found out that he helped cleanse body parts after a plane crash. He then wrote the entire investigation report, repeatedly reviewing the photographs taken at the scene.
Sometimes such things are brought to the public eye: that is, George Floyd and the Assault on Capitol Hill. Other times we (the general public) are unaware of a small plane crash and the “helpers” who can never ignore the damage.
Thanks to the first responders who carry the ugliness of the world. I am grateful that you can see these things and return home to your families full of love and heart to serve the public.
Ashley Chaney, Worthington
Standardized tests for high school
students measure poorly in the midst of COVID-19
I respond to the Feb. 24 online Dispatch article: “Biden tells states to test K-12 children; Ohio lawmakers will find out how. “
As a high school student who recently completed all of my required tests, I can say with confidence that standardized tests are incredibly ineffective. Personally, I have never considered the condition tests as an accurate measure of my knowledge, but I think it is especially true this year.
It’s no secret that COVID-19 has negatively impacted everyone’s lives. Many families have suffered expulsion, job loss or even the death of family members. Yet students are still expected to participate in standardized tests.
After:Biden tells states to test K-12 children; Ohio lawmakers will find out how
The hectic changes between online and in-person school have also slowed down the learning process. I know students who haven’t been to school all year, but somehow should compete with those who did.
Everyone’s lives have been filled with enormous amounts of stress, which makes condition testing more harmful than beneficial. Even my teachers expressed their distaste for state testing because COVID had limited their resources and did not allow them to teach certain subjects.
Overall, I think the poor design and timing of the test does not accurately reflect the abilities of the students and teachers.
Sofya Lukacheva, Dublin
Juvenile delinquents should not
let go easily; victims deserve justice
In an editorial from April 29, “Our System Unjustly Punishes Young Offenders,” author Sarah Denny pleads for lenient treatment of juvenile delinquents.
She is very concerned about juvenile offenders and the impact of our laws on them. However, nowhere in her editorial does she mention the victims of these offenders. As the Ohio director for the National Organization for Juvenile Murder Victims (NOVJM), I am compelled to respond.
Denny suggests banning the practice of judging juveniles as adults. If he is tried by a juvenile court, one can only be imprisoned until the age of 21. A 17-year-old who is tried as a minor would only be imprisoned for four years. It is unfair that someone receives such a light sentence for destroying or taking someone’s life.
After:Opinion: We must stop unfairly punishing children caught up in the justice system
Some young criminals cannot be rehabilitated in such a short time. Think of Gavon Ramsay, who murdered his 98-year-old neighbor, Margaret Douglas, and sexually assaulted her corpse. In Ramsay’s diary, investigators found biographies of serial killers, fantasies, and plans for rape and murder. Ramsay admitted he would have killed again if he hadn’t been caught (https://teenkillers.org/juvenile-lifers/offenders-cases-state/ohio-offenders/gavon-ramsay/).
Ohio lawmakers have imposed suffering on victims of minors with Senate Bill 256, which mandates parole hearings for Ramsay and other criminals. NOVJM calls for victims such as Margaret Douglas to be taken into consideration (https://teenkillers.org/legislation/ohio-senate-bill-256/consequences-of-sb-256/).
Lara Gingerich, Ohio director for the National Organization for Victims of Juvenile Murderers
