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SHUTESBURY-LEVERETT BROADBAND COMMITTEE

DRAFT MINUTES OF 1/6/04 MEETING

Attendance: Aron G, Michael D, Dan M, Fred B, David P, Paul B, Tom W, Bill I, Rob B, Steve B, Jon from Harris Digital

1. Approval of December Minutes and revised November Minutes.

December minutes were approved unanimously.

November Minutes still require Comcast numbers from october and will be revoted on at Feb meeting.

2. Letters of support from Select Boards, committees, others; one-page update, select board meeetings

aron will write letter and one-pager

aron will send dates by email

3. Sen. Rosenberg / Tom Moylan Initiative (Dan M, Aron)

Sidebar: Tom Moylan has discussed with Dan M and Aron a new wireless possibility from a company called Third Rail (third-rail.net). It is a bit mysterious, but it promises to be "incredible" in both performance and price. Tom will share more when he can.

Aron explained that Sen. Rosenberg's office's initiative seems to be proceeding. A draft RFP for an engineering study was circulated. It will porbably be going out to bidders soon. When they come back, another meeting will be scheduled, but this time with Rosenberg himself, and possibly Olver. SLBC is prominent within the draft RFP. It was agreed that If an engineering report of Shutes-Lev emerges from this process, in addition to other uses, it would be great for our USDA RUS application.

Michael D explained that a "whole series of overrides" are being considered at the state level next week. These could reverse Romney's econ devlpmt cuts, and put funding back into Rosenberg's economic stimulus package.

4. FRCOG Initiative added three county

At their meeting in Dec, the FRCOG changed their name from Franklin-Hampshire Connect to Pioneer Valley Connect, and Hamden County was added. SLBC was represented on the steering committee for  Franklin-Hampshire Connect by Aron, who will continue to represent the SLBC on the steering committee for Pioneer Valley Connect. No next meeting date has been set, but any SLBC member may attend instead of, or in addition to, Aron.

It still remains unclear what solution this group will provide for the region, or for Shutes-Lev. There is some concern (within the SLBC) that the interests and needs of Shutes-Lev are quite distinct from that of the region as a whole, or the FRCOG initiative specifically. But there was also a consensus that FRCOG is definitely interested in continuing to try and figure out how we can be served.

Michael D said it would be good to have a tag line,. or a name for our model, like the FRCOG's "Connect" model. "Community Fiber Network" was suggested.

5. Merton and New Hampshire

Dan M reported on his phone conversation with the town manager in Hanover, NH. Hanover is going forward with Merton and RUS. Dan explained that Hanover went with Merton because, in NH, municipalities are not allowed to be telecom service sproviders. But the Town manager also said that, even if they could do it themselves, they would still use Merton because it is so easy. At the same time, the Town Manager said there have been hours of intense meetings.

Adelphia already provides service in Hanover, but probably not broadband, until very recently. 85% of survey repsondents use dial-up for their internet. 13% use DSL (we are guessing not many are eligible). 1,500 surveys were sent out, with a 60% response rate. Dan passed around at least a couple pages of the survey instrument they used. They use an open network model, although each provider goes through Merton. Dan suggested we may want to contact their telecom lawyer. Steve B asked who issues IP addresses on such a system. Dan agreed to ask some follow questions.

6. USDA Rural Utility Service Update

A subcommittee for the RUS application was formed by a motion which was approved unanimously. Steve B will head that committee. Other members: Dan Mishkind, Michael DeChiara, and Aron Goldman.

Michael D suggested the Comm Fdtn for Western Mass as a possible source for money to pay for a grantwriter to help complete the complex RUS application.

Steve B. will give a report on the application itself at the next mtg.

Aron spoke with Steve McKenzie at the RUS who advised us to look at the application, and that he had none to share with us.

7. Five college fiber loop estimates as example (David P)

50K per mile for installing fiber

The 5 Colleges Fiber Loop project was looking at 10's to 100k per month for infrastructure support.

$3 mil total project cost could be low

8. Verizon

The second PR contact at Verizon quit, and we have been referred to a third (Rick Colon). Verizon continues to say they have no information about DSL or FTTH deployment plans for 2004.

9. Other Business

None

10. Next meeting: February 3, 2004, 7pm, Leverett Town Hall