What is the SOTTC?

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SOTTC, Champion of Telecommunications and Technology in Southern Oregon Growing the Silicon Orchard The Southern Oregon Telecommunications and Technology Council (SOTTC) is a nonprofit, membership organization committed to advocacy for increased connectivity and bandwidth for the region. SOTTC supports the development of new communications technologies while educating members and the public about rapidly changing telecommunication issues. The Mission of the SOTTC is to create a forum to promote the interests of telecommunications and technology stakeholders in Southern Oregon. History The RogueNet Steering Committee began an early attempt in the mid 1990s to organize Rogue Valley Information Technology professionals concerned with technology and telecommunications issues. In 1997, the Rogue Valley Chapter of the Software Association of Oregon, in association with its statewide parent and the American Electronics Association, held the inaugural Silicon Orchard Evening dinner event at the Rogue Valley Country Club. The Rogue Valley Civic League conducted after dinner table-based discussions, which included as a topic the formation of the Southern Oregon Telecommunications & Technology Council. The concept resonated with dinner guests, and a good number signed-on as charter members – including representatives from key regional stakeholders like SOU, Rogue Community College, the Jackson County Library System, ASANTE Health Systems, Jefferson Public Radio as well as companies like Imation/Kodak, Scala/Applied Machine Vision, Oregon California Broadcasting and a host of others. As a result of this meeting and the actions taken since that night, the SOTTC was organized. The Civic League provided administrative and management support services to the newly formed Council. League staff took on SOTTC research and administrative roles. The League also became the Council’s financial partner, obtaining and administering a $10,000 grant for the SOTTC from US West. Since the formation of the SOTTC, Southern Oregon is better represented on technology forums in Salem; our technology community now has an anchor, a core organization that brings together disparate players with common needs; and, most importantly, the region speaks with a single voice on important issues of our time. After more than a century, the industrial age is giving way to the information age – a significant transition that is occurring at the dawn of the new millennium. Concurrently, life in our region is undergoing dramatic change. This is an opportune time for a regional grass-roots organization to step up and face the challenges of the future, bringing together community players, agencies and individuals to discuss the critical telecommunications and technology issues of our time. The Southern Oregon Telecommunications & Technology Council (SOTTC) is the appropriate organization to identify these issues; do the research; formulate a strategic plan; and to educate the general public and government regarding the implementation and outcome of the plan. The SOTTC has already proven an effective voice in cases where its membership has identified a priority and targeted specific action. "The communities of the Rogue valley need to work together to take advantage of the opportunities created by this new, information age infrastructure. We need to make sure our businesses can compete in the information economy, our workforce is ready to use the new tools and build better ones, our public services are convenient and responsive, and everyone has access regardless of location or income."   SOTTC long-range goals: Continue to promote the interests of our partners through education, leadership, aggregating demand, and serving as a strong voice for telecommunication & technology. Evolve toward a new role of facilitator and knowledge broker with a focus on the application of information technology to business, community and society. Give priority to areas where affordable services are not accessible and assist with start up. Active outside region and statewide, but never at the expense of Jackson/Josephine counties. Networking approach to other organizations and stakeholders with an emphasis on partnering. Every citizen has affordable access to high speed broadband in our information economy. Make our contribution to healthy and sustainable communities, region, and state.   SOTTC Committees: Business and Workforce Development Legislative Program and Public Education Rural Initiatives   SOTTC serves as the voice for technology and telecommunications in Southern Oregon SOTTC programs and advocacy help to ensure: Representation for southern Oregon on statewide issues and organizations. Building of public/private partnerships. Research and advocacy for resources to build the telecommunications and technology sector in southern Oregon. Current assessments of regional needs and priorities. Legislative bulletins and expert testimony before key legislative committees. Active recruitment of technology and telecommunications businesses. Monthly educational programs on timely telecommunications and technology issues. Annual gathering of industry leaders at the annual Silicon Orchard and Roundtable events.   SOTTC Gets Things Done Community eCommerce Readiness Assessment Workshops Silicon Orchard Evening Participant in the Technology Pavilion at Jackson County Fair Workplace Training Needs Assessment Legislative Advocacy in Salem and Washington ECommerce Zone support for Medford Representation on regional and statewide policy making groups   SOTTC Timeline Mid1990’s Software Association RogueNet Steering Committee 1997 Organizational development: Rogue Valley Civic League (RVCL) Telecommunication &Technology roundtable SOTTC kickoff Events/conferences: First Silicon Orchard Evening 1998 Goals: Bandwith Legislation Education Organizational development: Founding committee formed Bylaws developed Articles of incorporation as 501c6 Initiating Board established Funding: RVCL receives $10,000 US West seed grant Sponsors Legislative lobbying/participation: Oregon Telecommunication Forum Council (OTFC southern Oregon representative) Events/conferences: Silicon Orchard Evening (SOE) - 120 in attendance 1999 Goals: Bandwidth Legislation Education 0rganizational development: 5OI(c)(6) incorporation Membership drive Database development Committees Funding: Seed grant from US West Sponsors Education/Forums: Forums (6) Projects: eCommerce readiness assessment Davis & Hibbitts training needs assessment with SOREDI Events/conferences: Jackson County Fair Technology Pavilion Silicon Orchard Evening (SOE) - 150 in attendance 2000 Goals: Infrastructure, access, education & training Position region as a leader in information economy Forum for business, government, and nonprofit organizations (NPOs) to advance T & T Organizational development: Growth in membership’s sponsorship Database grew to hundreds/ reorganized Funding: 1st grant of $35,000 from regional investment fund Sponsors Legislative lobbying/participation SB 622 Education /Forums: Forums (10) RVTV videotapes and cablecasts selected forums RVTV "Tech Talk" NPO’s connecting nonprofits through technology Projects: Businesses incubator research project Website as portal SB 622 3 county application Infrastructure maps Events/conferences: Silicon Orchard Evening (SOE) - 150 in attendance Jackson County Fair Technology Pavilion 2001 Goals: Bandwidth Legislation Education Organizational development: Expanded partnerships with Chambers Further development of position as regional T & T leader Funding: Regional Investment Fund (RIF) $25,000 grant WF skills training grant Sponsors Legislative lobbying/participation: SB765 ORTTC – SOTTC representing southern Oregon regional telecom consortia Education/Forums: Monthly forums (10) with televideo conferencing to Josephine County. Co-sponsored Telemedicine workshop with national speaker Business/NPO forum RVTV videotapes and cablecasts selected forums RVTV "Tech Talk" Projects: SB622 5 county project support– SONET rings and advanced services NPO project research - models & grant applications RIF Community Technology grant RIF multi-region grant application/ partnering RIF Josephine County Digital Village Business and Technology Plan grant application Rural Initiatives Committee (RIC) launched Resource support for Community Technology Centers Regional planning/partnerships Middle and last mile alternatives Web portal development Jackson County library technology plan WF training NPO Tech needs assessment survey Events/conferences: Silicon Orchard Evening revamped 150 in attendance Southern Oregon Telecommunications Roundtable – representatives from 5 counties in attendance SOTTC sponsor dinner added Jackson County Fair Technology Pavilion Co-sponsored statewide Connecting Rural Oregon Communities conference in Bend 2002 Goals Continue to promote the interests of our partners through education, leadership, aggregating demand, and serving as a strong voice for telecommunication & technology. Evolve toward a new role of facilitator and knowledge broker with a focus on the application of information technology to business, community and society. Give priority to areas where affordable services are not accessible and assist with start up. Active outside region and statewide, but never at the expense of Jackson/Josephine counties. Networking approach to other organizations and stakeholders with an emphasis on partnering. Every citizen has affordable access to high speed broadband in our information economy. Make our contribution to healthy and sustainable communities, region, and state. Explore transition from 501c6 to 501c3 to expand access to grants and contracts. Organizational development: Expanded partnerships with Chambers and other regional consortia Further development of position as regional T & T leader Funding: RIF Community Technology grant ($26,738) RIF multi-region grant – Josephine/Jackson and Klamath/Lake ($32,282) RIF Josephine County Digital Village Business and Technology Plan grant ($26,738) Sponsors Legislative lobbying/participation: SB765 ORTTC –representing southern Oregon regional telecom consortia Successful advocacy for a southern Oregon eCommerce zone Education/Forums: Monthly forums (10) with televideo conferencing to Josephine County (5 completed). Projects: Community Technology education and advocacy Regional planning/partnerships - Josephine/Jackson and Klamath/Lake Josephine County Digital Village Business and Technology Plan Resource support for Community Technology Centers Middle and last mile alternatives Advocate Medford eCommerce Zone designation Port Web to new technology (underway) NPO Tech needs assessment survey Events/conferences (planning underway): Silicon Orchard Evening Southern Oregon Telecommunications Roundtable SOTTC sponsor dinner added Jackson County Fair Technology Pavilion Co-sponsor statewide Connecting Rural Oregon Communities conference in Bend     Join the Southern Oregon Telecommunications and Technology Council

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