So it is particularly important for you to come and tell your story about your broadband struggles anywhere in the Valley. She wil be spending the whole day with us, so if you'd like to meet up with us at another time (like lunch at noon in downtown amherst) please let me know immediately. Thanks, and this could make a huge difference! --- Aron P. Goldman, Chair Shutesbury-Leverett Broadband Committee Tel: 413 549 1193 web site: www.slbc.us ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------- To all those interested in broadband for unserved areas of the Valley! New and exciting possibilities have emerged as a result of our recent coverage in the Hampshire Gazette and the very popular DSL Reports (full stories: www.slbc.us/news.html)! Verizon continues to pretend we do not exist, but several experts and companies from near and far are approaching us with new ideas (and investment dollars?) for broadband solutions. In addition to internet access, VOIP telephone services may also be possible--giving families and businesses the option of liberating themselves from Verizon entirely! To find out more and get involved, come to the Shutesbury-Leverett Broadband Committee meeting on THURSDAY, August 4th, at 7 pm, at the LEVERETT Town Hall. Please notice the proposed agenda and suggested reading below. And please keep in touch! Yours, Aron PS. Factoid of the day: Did you know that this monthly email goes to 176 Shutes/Lev households, 18 political representatives and staff, 8 local and national reporters, and 38 providers (incl. Comcast and Verizon), 30 industry experts, and my father-in-law)? --- Aron P. Goldman, Chair Shutesbury-Leverett Broadband Committee Tel: 413 549 1193 web site: www.slbc.us ------------------------------ PROPOSED AGENDA ------------------------------ 1. Introductions 2. Approve Minutes 3. Approve Agenda 4. Ecosee (www.ecosee.com/about.html) 5. WaveIP (www.waveip.com) 6. Crocker 7. Other business 8. Next Meeting? --------------------------------- SUGGESTED READING --------------------------------- 1. Tales From a Broadband Black Hole: Some towns don't have DSL, much less fiber (DSL Reports, 7/15/05) http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/65549 2. Users go public with Internet plea - Roadside signs appeal to Verizon (Hampshire Gazette, 7/14/05) http://www.slbc.us/documents/Gazette071405.pdf 3. Municipal Broadband Wireless Trends http://muniwireless.com/applications/780 4. Telecom Reform Bill Introduced: Incumbent Providers Thrilled http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20050727/1154258_F.shtml 5. FCC chief pushes for easing rules on DSL broadband (Reuters, 7/26/05) http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx? type=internetNews&storyID=2005-07-26T230318Z_01_N26180255_RTRIDST_0_NET- TELECOMS-FCC-BROADBAND-DC.XML 6. Symmetrical 10Mbps Fiber for $40 http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/66069