August 5, 2003

Minutes Shutesbury-Leverett Broadband Committee Meeting.

Attendees: Aron Goldman, Rob Brooks, Dan Mishkind, Shawn Gunderson, John Harris, Michael DeChiara, Toby Renzoni, Louise Dunphy, Dr. Fred Bashour, Bill Irving

John Harris from Harris Digital and Toby Renzoni from Optical Communication Services of New England joined us to have input on our research of high speed Internet technology options. The committee welcomed John and Toby.

Committee reviewed present status of S-L Broadband Group. Shutesbury Selectboard has adopted proposal and approved the groups’ status as a Town Committee and the membership. Louise received her packet from the Town of Shutesbury and she briefly shared its content. Others should receive their packets in the mail in the days following. Leverett Select Board is scheduled to hear proposal and adopt committee and its members at their Selectboard Meeting, Tuesday August 12, 2003. Aron read proposal as it was adopted by the Selectboard. Item number three under section “Guidelines for use of electronic Forums”,referring to who can post to email list group was discussed. Group felt that they did not want to limit who can post to board. It was agreed that line, “Only committee members shall be able to post messages to the forum”., be removed from proposal. Aron will pursue this change with Selectboard for approval.

Aron informed group of present status of Comcast's survey of the Town of Shutesbury. Comcast plans to mail survey postcard as early as this Friday. Discussion took place about one town being surveyed and not the other. Comcast understands that the towns are similar enough (geographically, demographically, etc.) so that whatever is found to be true about Shutesbury would be considered to be true for Leverett as well. The group reached consensus that a letter should be sent to Comcast indicating that Leverett and Shutesbury are now a two town entity and recommend that they survey both towns. Aron will write this letter and circulate to committee members for approval.

Committee adopted an action plan to urge town residents to fill out and mail back Comcast survey. We felt it was needed to explain that this is the only vendor that has come to town to consider providing high speed service along with cable TV and that we should alert residents to fill out survey and return. A plan to reach residents was formed. Dan Mishkind will develop a postcard to be sent from us. The group will pitch in and absorb cost of postage. A flier form of postcard will be made. Louise will distribute this flier to libraries, Town Halls, Leverett Coop, and post offices.

FTTH plan was discussed. Toby Renzoni and John Harris discussed their opinions of digital, cable and FTTH. They felt FTTH has best long-term results and that fiber prices are coming down and becoming more reasonable. Group reached consensus and action plan to pursue this option. We will talk with Finance Chairman from both towns. Who will do this? We will contact towns that have implemented FTTH option and get details of their feasibility study such as Princeton, MA, Coos County, NH, and Milford, NH. Louise will do this. We will develop a plan to call for bids from vendors such as Harris Digital, Optical Communication Services, and Merton to complete a study to include technology needs of community and business plan for development and management of a FTTH high speed option. We will focus on financial plans that do not pose risk and taxes for towns.

Meeting adjourned at 9:50pm after setting next meeting for Wednesday, September 3, 2003 at Shutesbury Town Hall..