CSUMB’s tech center brings wireless imagination to Monterey.

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The fact that the conference is happening locally (and features a number of local case studies) isn’t coincidence. Part of WeTEC’s mission—meeting a national need in education and industry for reliable information concerning technology deployment, applications, assessments and issues—is to bring national and regional leaders together.

Because of WeTEC, CSUMB ranks behind only one other public university in the country on Intel’s list of top wireless campuses. Given WeTEC’s track record, it’s no surprise that, in its third year, the conference is gaining momentum. This year’s program has drawn tech experts from AT&T and Cisco, Stanford and UCLA, Monterey County and Canada. Its featured panel Thursday morning will extend its expertise to a wide audience through a live webcast.

Krebs, a New York transplant who completed doctoral studies in culture and communications at NYU, is proud of the conference’s singularity.

“It’s unique because it melds education, business and government people,” she says, “no other conference has all three. I hope what comes out are partnerships and alliances—and a commitment to pull together and merge our resources to link the Central Coast.”

Underneath this seemingly modest hope, however, simmers an uncompromising drive to help the Central Coast adapt by motivating local leaders to embrace technology.

“The goal is that our county leaders understand these technologies and how they can be put to work for education, public safety, research, communication among government agencies, economic development and health,” she says.

Given the fact that WeTEC was originally founded with a Congressional appropriation championed by Central Coast Rep. Sam Farr, Krebs has reason to be confident that leaders will catch on. AMBAG, which co-sponsors the conference, is already committed, according to Executive Director Nick Papadakis.

“My agency did a study a couple of years ago and looked at small businesses on the Central Coast,” Papadakis says. “We found out they don’t have access to broadband [Internet]. We have rural areas—fiber will never get there or it will be many years from now. That’s just one example why wireless is so important.

“If [improvements] don’t happen all those people will stay behind and the region will suffer. We have to educate our decision-makers.”

“THE MOBILE USER,” a three-part program on the mobile user, mobility and community, and mobility and public policy, will be webcast live from the Steinbeck Forum at The Monterey Conference Center, 1 Portola Plaza, Monterey, 8:30-10am, Thursday, June 1. $70, includes breakfast. for a schedule of events and more, visit http://wetec.csumb.edu.