Broadband Committee
Minutes
August 29,2007
7:30 PM

Meeting called to order at 7:45 PM.

In attendance:  Reva Reck, Miryam Williamson, Gloria Varno

Elected officers.  Reva Reck was appointed Chairwoman.
Gloria Varno was appointed Secretary.  

Miryam brought up a topic about the Warwick Zoning Task Force and a
discussion about restrictions on wireless structures.  She said they are
meeting on September 26 @ 5:30 PM and thinks we should have a presence. 
The wireless repeaters that we have been told about to carry broadband
around the town, might have to be explained and we need to know the
restrictions that are being discussed.  Reva and Gloria will try and
make the meeting to gather information and communicate information to
the task force.  Miryam will arrive as soon as she can.

Gloria brought in some articles on a broadband service she had been
hearing about on the radio.  Fair Point Communications has bought
Verizon wireless in northern New England and plans to put broadband in
all rural areas of NH, VT and ME.  Since Warwick is 3 miles from
Winchester, NH, it was suggested that we contact them with information
and see if they might be available.  Gloria will email our location and
the fact that we have a tower in town.  Will pass on any information she
receives.

Reva has been in contact with Steeplechase who has been looking at
broadband in this area and she was frustrated with her contact,
Jennifer.  Jennifer had asked for contact information on other broadband
committees in other towns, which Reva provided her.  During the last
conversation, Jennifer asked if Reva if she had contacted them.  Reva
was expecting her to contact them since she wanted the information.  She
updated Reva on a 9-12 miles fiber "loop" which Reva questioned and then
she said it could be a "straight" line.  So why is it called a loop?  
They are also going to look into bringing the T1 line back to the town
hall and relay it to the cell tower.  We should be getting a quote on
this once they send someone out to look at the situation.  Jennifer is
now requesting a street list so Steeplechase can continue their
analysis.  Reva is going to ask Jeannette for a street list containing
occupations, which she will forward to Steeplechase.

We had a discussion about the Broadband proposal that the Patrick
Administration is ready to bring into service.  This proposal will help
(through grant monies) towns get 'connected'.  We feel we don't want to
present Warwick (population 750) alone and that it would be better as a
regional center to apply.  Pioneer Valley Connect has grouped Warwick
with towns like New Salem, Leverett, Shutebury, and Wendell and that we
would have better luck getting grant money as a region.  When the
proposal becomes final, we will be in contact with other towns and Pioneer
Valley Connect.  In the meantime, Reva is going to get PVC's tool kit
and we will look at what they require.
 
Miryam is going to check and validate whether the Broadband Committee is
an 'official' committee and whether we need to post meetings and publish
minutes.  She thinks other towns, like Shelburne do not consider
committees like this 'official'.  Until then we post meetings and
publish minutes.

Meeting adjourned at 8:43 PM

Submitted by:
Gloria Varno
Secretary Broadband Committee