Fundraiser Kickoff - community-owned, ultra-fast internet for Davis.

Greetings Davisites,

Our effort to bring a community fiber-optic network to Davis proceeds -- with some good news to report. 

• First, DavisGIG has teamed up with the long time Davis nonprofit, Davis Community Network, to be the fiscal agent, to collect funds, and assist with the campaign to build this network. 
• Second, the Broadband Advisory Task Force, which City Council authorized in Dec 2015, had its first meeting March 23rd, and its composition is a powerhouse of community leaders. They have come together to make a recommendation to our city council on the best course of action to create a world-class, fiber-optic network for Davis. Nearly half of the BATF membership have been involved with the DavisGIG effort, and are aware of what we want to accomplish. We need to educate the remaining Task Force members of how much we all value a community-owned alternative to Internet Duopoly. 
• Third, for the City to move forward, we will need a Feasibility Study Report that objectively evaluates options for a fiber-optic deployment for Davis. We want this to be prepared by a professional broadband planning consultancy. DavisGIG volunteers have completed and are ready to publish a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit a vendor for this report. 

We believe it would be a very powerful statement to our community leaders if we funded this report from contributions made by everyone from our City! If we match our ardor with a small investment, it will demonstrate to City leaders how important this will be to our community. An investment in our City's infrastructure is an investment in your future. Please donate today! And be ready to help on May 3rd, the Big Day of Giving! 

We also need your help NOW to convince our City leaders we want better Internet options. We want equal network access opportunities for all residents, lower prices and better service, through competitive choice, and a boost for our economy. One of the many benefits to community ownership would mean a portion of our monthly broadband payments returned to support our city. 

There are THREE (3) ways we are asking everyone to help move this project forward. 

1. Make a tax-deductible* donation to help pay for the study we need. Consider DavisGIG on the Big Day of Giving 
2. Send a letter about your broadband experiences, and what you would like for Davis’ broadband future to the staff liaison of the Broadband Advisory Task Force, please forward a copy to help@dcn.org 
3. Forward this message to your friends, neighborhood lists, and community groups. 

With your help we can address many problems our City faces with this one solution. We can diversify the economy, attract and retain businesses, provide better, cheaper internet connections to our residences, address digital-divide issues, and create new revenues for our city. 

In Appreciation,

Davis GIG Committee
Davis Community Network 

*The Davis Community Network is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and contributions to it qualify as charitable under federal and state tax codes. Earmark your contribution for DavisGIG to specify its use for efforts to bring municipal fiber to Davis.