May 5, 2012
State paid $22K each for Internet routers
Devices made for college campuses now in rural libraries, schools
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Nobody told Hurricane librarian Rebecca Elliot that the $22,600 Internet router in the branch library's storage closet was powerful enough to serve an entire college campus.
Nobody told Elliot how much the router cost or who paid for it. Workers just showed up and installed the device. They left behind no instructions, no user manual.
The high-end router serves four public computer terminals at the small library in Putnam County.
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What a waste.
Was anyone with any knowledge and/or sense advising the state, on behalf of the state, during this?
I wouldn't doubt that all of these could be sold and the proceeds used to buy appropriate devices, all with expansion capability, for both copper and fiber, with money left over to use to implement more fiber around he state.
I have several wired computers and five wireless devices running through a less than $100 router, plus I pay $7 a month for a modem to connect it to copper. A different modem would connect it to fiber. This would work for many small libraries.
We were "OPEN FOR BUSINESS."
I think this was the truest statement he made.
Nice how "Homeland Security" was invoked as a reason to waste this money. Like a router is going to stop a terrorist.
Qudo's to the paper, I'm surprised they printed it. I'll bet there are some seriously irratated leftist loons at the Gazette when these articles appear on Sunday
How can he say that the future needs justify this?
Now, let's not jump to conclusions! Big as these things are, Mr. Gianato could build a wall out of them to hide behind.
Seriously - why was someone that had no technical qualifications picking the equipment? Why wasn't he spending his time trying to figure out what each site already had and really needed? And network technology continues to evolve at a terrific pace - so NOBODY sizes stuff for more than a couple of years in the future - because two or three years from now, all of these routers will be obsolete!
Mr. Gianato was clearly spending someone else's money, not his own. He should be fired immediately!
And Griner, I'll agree that this is an example of government waste at its finest - but it takes two to tango, and Cisco or the vendor was was happy to take the state's money. Do you think this would have turned out differently had Cisco been in charge?
I guess next Rush and Hannity will focus on WVa as another wasteful area of taxpayer money and make us look more like morons.
What next, lawyers suing for health problems caused in libraries from the oversized routers? Wouldn't surprise me, I've seen crazier things here.
Rush and Hannity will not make us look like morons. Gianato has already taken care of that. Is poor judgment a requirement for his position?
Eric Eye might write enough information to put Mr. Gianato back in the car selling business.
Sad when a conservative suggests we cut these people off like we would cut a family member alcholic off that we're called racist and such to deflect the debate
Cut these morons off......If the school system needs routers hold a bake sale....it would work
I am $12,000 a year behind all the professional engineers in my building with the same or less years of service and same or lower classification.
I am told monthly how they would love to fix this salary gap for me but no money is available. $22,000 for a router is a joke, but I see this much wasted on a daily basis.
The WVDOH also pay millions of dollars for all these contractors to build our highways. WVDDOH then gives bonuses to these contractors for doing their jobs. I have seen these bonuses be in the $100,000 range.
No bonuses for us WVDOH employees doing our jobs. I still can't figure out where this bonus money comes from.
I also see DOH employee's get $20,000 - $30,000/yr in overtime. Where does this money come from?
WV = 100% Re-Election Guaranteed. No Wonder we are 49th.
It’s for the children. Don’t be shortchanging them on getting edumacated, ya hear.