Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

   My Name is Kevin, and I am currently residing in a beach community just west of Tampa Bay, Florida. I have been involved with "Wireless Internet" since 1999, and have done basic computer networks for the Residential, SoHo, Small Business and the Hospitality industry. I have worked with many companies, testing and designing some of thier products and helping to provide hotspot networks for Public and Private use.

   I am now part of a "Non-profit Community Wireless Internet Company" that is starting up with very little capital but almost $20,000 in assests. We are looking to help communities with safety and communication by using "Mobile/Remote Technologies" that provide internet access in places where a physical cable or line is either unavailable or cost prohibitive. Our company is comprised of four people with above average capabilities in legal, marketing, networking and construction. I am here at SuN, to get help making this "Non-Profit Venture" provide its service while operating in the black. We have watched as a lot of companies continue to spout verbage in regards to providing "Internet Access" for the disadvantaged, but we are not seeing any of them getting it done without "Donations" or needing to have a for profit company "fund" the "Disadvantaged" part of the business.We feel that a positive marketing approach, help from community businesses, organizations, and people can make this work far better than "Big Boys" trying to "light up" a metro area by promising service to the impoverished. The only chance of failure is if the governing bodies, of these communities, is not really trying to help. I think that a positive mindset and a willingness to work within the communities themselves is the only way to really get it done, and done right. This means I have to get help from those that have a better understanding of dealing with this type of community than I do. Throwing money towards a "disadvantaged" community almost never works, but being a part of the community and getting funds to solve a problem usually has better success. So I am going to need help with finding ways of getting into the community, approaching the community leaders (not necessarily the elected ones), and solving the problems the community thinks they have, not the ones the media tells us they have.

  I hope to also be able to help others with thier questions or concerns if they fall in my area of expertise, and as always, I am happy to give my opionon when my interest is raised.

Thank You for reading my topic and I look forward to meeting you,

Kevin