The Economic TeleDevelopment Forum (ETF) is a non-profit research project that categorizes global sources of relevant news, information, and applied knowledge about leveraging telecommunications infrastructure investments, with an emphasis on policies and practices that enable local community economic development. Visitors are encouraged to recommend new categories and associated content.The Inception of the ETF:
Several years ago, when the internet was still in its embryonic stage, the founder of the ETF attempted to find a web site that gleaned the online compendium of probing questions and body of knowledge regarding the potential role of a local telecommunications network infrastructure as a catalyst for social and economic transformation. Not knowing what a portal was at that time, because the term wasn’t yet used to describe an aggregated collection of the best-in-class online resources, regardless -- that was his quest.
Needless to say, he didn’t find what he was looking for, and so he set out to create it. Therefore, the Economic TeleDevelopment Forum was crafted to fill this void. This web-centric effort evolved into the founding of the Center for TeleDevelopment Policy and Research, and the establishment of a cause-centic volunteer "community of practice."
Many of the initial students of the internet phenomenon studied the "pipes and the plumbing" of the physical network layers of the internet, and were fascinated by the potential of the enabling technology to change the inner workings of communication networks. In contrast, others like David were more amazed by the unknown applied information technology implications -- online applications that essentially allowed people to apply and experience what they had only previously imagined.
The advent of the printing press, the radio, and the television all extended the boundaries of contacts and information exchanges among people(s) -- but, through a one-way broadcast communication model. In contrast, the internet allowed a receptive western civilization of content viewers to recast themselves as bi-directional authors, editors, producers and ultimately publishers of content. Suddenly, the saying "the world is your oyster" took on a totally new meaning. Then, ideas became the new collateral of those who would create wealth from internet-centric concepts. In some cases, unseating traditional legacy enterprises that once dominated whole industries or markets.
The internet in essence created a platform for a globally networked economy. A borderless economy without physical boundaries. Essentially, a New internet-based Economy that was difficult to define with conventional wisdom.
Not a day seems to pass that someone, somewhere, out there utilizing their internet access discovers an ingenuous perspective of looking at something familiar in an unfamiliar way. Entrepreneurs use the instruments and tools of the internet neo-craftsmen who turn visions into renditions, and ultimately into new ventures. The results are often the beginning of a new online business concept, or otherwise stated as an e-business.
The new economy, by definition, is frequented by those who dare to question that which was once given to be predictable and finite. Enabled by a global internet, the prescient logic behind the assumption that time and space create the here and there, now translates into -- it’s all here (since there is virtually here, via the internet). Thus, the addressable market of an e-business, at its current theoretical limit, is the planet earth. And, therefore, potential competition for the first-to-market launch of a new internet-centric enterprise will come from -- well, who really knows?
Clearly, one might conclude that there are more questions than answers about the relevance of the new economy on your country, your region, your community, your business and your individual life. However, rather than follow the well trodden path of those seeking answers to common questions, perhaps we all need to consider taking the road less traveled -- by seeking and asking totally new thought-provoking questions.
In essence, the Economic TeleDevelopment Forum's charter is to provide a platform for posing boundless questions, and then to discover sources of substantive content that will help those who determine that they don’t know the most relevant questions to ask. Again, it’s a new economy, so what forward-looking questions are you asking yourself, and your local community leadership?
Do you find this topic intriguing, and are you interested in applying this insight and knowledge with a practical methodology? The ETF founder offers consultative and advisory services to individuals or organizations who require help in determining how to effectively attract investments in telecom and ICT infrastructure, specifically within their unique local community environment. Contact Us now for additional details.
About the ETF Founder:
David H. Deans is currently the Senior Partner of Deans & Associates, based in Austin, Texas. As a seasoned entrepreneur, David established this technology sales and marketing professional services company to specialize in market research, go-to-market strategy development, and the execution of market development action plans for forward-looking clients.
He has a proven track record of over twenty-five years of accomplishments within the multinational telecommunications, enterprise software and professional services industries. He is a frequent seminar leader and presenter at industry trade shows and conferences, and the author of numerous published articles and papers on technology applications, public policy and organization development.
David is also the founder of the GeoActive Group USA™, a cause-centric market development professional services firm; and the IT Professional Mastery Series™, a collaborative project featuring news, information, and applied knowledge about developer training and skills transfer. He also launched GeoNetworker International™, an enterprise talent networking project; the GeoBridge™ project, a viaduct for international trade; and the Retail Nation™ project, a compendium of global retail sector online resources.
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