Sunday, August 24th Victoria, BC
In Adam’s suite at the Empress, the two men were animated kids with battle strategies; Adam laid out the fresh coffee and donuts, Ted laid out the plan.
“Okay,” Ted started. “We need to detail the technology transfer for the island. We need to have everything in place and ready to go for the cut-over to stand alone. You will be working for the Premier, through me, as the technology manager for his new high-tech platform that he announced last week. And, at the same time, preparing the island for its cut-over and cut-away from the mainland.”
“Excellent,” Adam replied. “Let’s get started.”
Ted pointed to his notebook. “There’s a list – you type in the technology details – I’ll do the broad strokes.”
Technology Transfer Notes (Ted/Adam)
1. Set up and retrofit the empty building in Nanaimo. Full network control centre for all communications as well as broadcast centre backup.
2. Implement island-wide communications infrastructure upgrade (coax, twisted-pair, fibre optic cabling), everywhere possible – all homes, all businesses, for universal communications capability – potential of 5 gigabits per second, per end-user.
3. Implement satellite two-way for any areas on the island that do not now have the capability for high-speed internet access (contact producer in Nunavut, and Yukon – they already have a package deal).
4. Install new SmartCard data Readers at all outlets that use card-swipe devices.
5. Install new Pedestals wherever Kiosks now exist.
By mid-morning, they had most items detailed, and realised they would need Hank MacDougall’s help.
As Adam reached for the phone to call him, Ted slipped back into his grown-up mode. He had been asked by Gloria to put forward the name of someone that would make an appropriate first Prime Minister for the Island. Ted waited until Adam was off the phone, then told him that he would be unavailable for a few days. He had something to work out.