[Hidden-tech] Helping others without broadband

[A - Z International]

Hi all,

I spent yesterday lunch with Aron Goldman, who heads the 
Shutesbury-Leverett broadband initiative, a Globe reporter and several 
Shutesbury-area folk who are all suffering from lack of broadband.

Although I've known about the issue and tried to help out here and there, I 
was really horrified to learn how some of our members are struggling. Aron, 
for example, has to drive to Amherst and park outside a cafe to download 
files I can receive or send in seconds. Of course, not having broadband or 
DSL, for that matter, means no VOIP. And Aron tells me that some people are 
actually spending as much as $500 a month for private T1 lines, which is an 
exorbitant expense for a small business. While some folks may be "robust" 
enough to afford that expense, and it is something they can write off, it's 
still pretty extraordinary to realize that we have members who are fronting 
about $6,000 a year for something that costs me roughly $400 - $700 annually.

With all this in mind, I'm hoping that others can help Aron promote his 
efforts to resolve the broadband issue in Franklin County and elsewhere. He 
posts meetings to the list regularly and is quite accessible.

In the meantime, I do have a wireless network in my condo and plenty of 
work space outside of my own office space. I can accommodate 10-plus people 
at any given time who are doing quiet work. Just reach me through the 
Contact button on the Web site if you want to stop by and do some work. I'm 
happy to have you if I'm home, which is often.

best,

Amy Zuckerman
Hidden-Tech founder, co-chair