| Shutesbury-Leverett Broadband Committee MINUTES Attendance: Aron Goldman, Rob Brooks, Steve Bannasch, David Powicki, Glen Ayers, Michael DeChiara , (Mark Bucciarelli via telephone) 1. Approval of Agenda Agenda approved. 2. Approval of April Minutes Minutes unanimously approved. 3. Verizon DSL service in Shutesbury Aron led discussion. Gave update from phone call with Verizon rep. Verizon plans to install hardware needed to support DSL. Will service 250 homes. Timeline set for Fall 04. General group discussion on how this impacts FTTH. Aron brought up the fact that a local Shutesbury only install of DSL does not meet the committee values. Steve Bannasch suggested DSL would have little effect on FTTH project. It was agreed that we should use our strength as a committee to encourage a larger Verizon DSL build out. Aron agreed to contact Verizon for more information 4. Comcast Call Michael gave an update on Comcast’s reaction to the Concord Ma. FTTH project 5. Update from Marks contact with other FTTH communities (Mark attended meeting via conference call). Mark spoke with a representative from an Alabama FTTH project. $8,000-$9,000 per mile for straight shots of aerial cable. FTTH project associated with local electric company Mark will provide more information at future meetings. 6. Matt Crocker Aron suggested the committee invite Matt Crocker to next meeting. There was general discussion around the issue of contracting with a person or entity for conduction preliminary work on the FTTH project. It was agreed that inviting Matt Crocker would help the committee better understand technical and other issues related to FTTH.
Glen informed the committee that based on his research dinners and other ‘gifts’ less than $50 do not represent conflicts of interest. Nevertheless there is a form that should be filled out by those who attended the Skytech dinner. Conflict of interest forms will be entered in to the record at next meeting and submitted to the select board. 8. Skytech Discussion Dave P. mentioned that Skytech had been in contact with Facilities Planning and the Office of Information Technologies at UMass. 9. Skyway satellite Glen informed the committee that a satellite based ISP will be setting up a demonstration access point at the Leverett Coop. |