Shutesbury - Leverett Broadband Joint Committee Meeting
Minutes of June 20, 2007
Meeting opened at: 7 p.m. at Leverett Town Hall
Members Present: Robert Heller and Robbie Leppzer from Wendell. Weezie Houle from Shutesbury, and Rob Brooks from Leverett.

  1. Approve Agenda as proposed.
  2. Approve minutes as written.
  3. Updates from town reps:
    1. Shutesbury: Weezie Houle
      1. Report Weezie was told by Carol at Verizon in Springfield, that Verizon -413 did not receive funds from Verizon Nationwide for the DSL roll out to Shutesbury and Leverett for 2007. They will resubmit the proposal in early 2008 and hope to be informed in March, but nothing is definite.
      2. The Mass Municipal Advocate – articles for us to read
      3. Frank Citino is resigning as of 7/1/07.
  4. Leverett: Rob Brooks
    1. Dan Michkin and Dave Powicki have resigned from the Committee.
    2. Leverett has formed a petition to present to Verizon for DSL for N. Leverett area
  5. Wendell: Robbie Leppzer – Town meeting voted to put in $2,000 for high speed satellite connection for the town offices.
  6. PVC News
    1. Mary Ellen Kennedy reported on the New Salem as one of the PVC Beta Test site. They are now scoping out where to install WIFI transmitters. The T1 is expected to be installed by September. The three test sites may have different transmitter vendors. PVC has decided to not charge end users for the service.
    2. Robbie Leppzer reported on his conversation with Jessica from PVC.
  7. In pursuit of a Western Mass Broadband Forum and how to invite other broadband committees to join with us to find solutions. Report from Robbie Leppzer who was to contact PCV to try to get list of applicants & any contact lists they have.
  8. Create an email letter to start some discussion.
  9. We were contacted by the Hilltown CDC re: joining a forum to be held on July 28. We emailed a reply that we would be happy to help them do this with our email list and other means.
  1. Action Items:
    1. Rob Brooks will contact Andrew Baker re: getting towns together to create a joint group
    2. Rob & Fred: will draft a letter for the Leverett Select Board to address the 5 College Inc. regarding access to coordination to their fiber optic network. Lorna Peterson, Donna Baron, director of information technology for the Five College Inc.
  2. Move to next month's agenda: Rob Brooks suggests that someone coordinate Shutesbury residents in the area of the lake with the Lake Wyola Association to form their own petition to Verizon.
  3. Weezie: Write a letter for Town newsletter: 1) Soliciting volunteers and 2) DSL
  4. New Business:
    1. Leverett and Shutesbury residents should be informed of the DLS. The committee is not endorsing any vendor, and the only option is satellite.
    2. Meeting schedule:
    3. PVC: Sending someone to the July PVC meeting, the date of which hasn't been set.
  • Visitors: Mary Ellen Kennedy from New Salem, Bill Irvine from Leverett.
  • Next Meeting: Wendell - Wednesday, July 18, 7 p.m., Wendell Town Hall