[Hidden-tech] Fwd: WiredWest First Anniversary Announcements

[Rich Roth]

*WiredWest Celebrates Milestones and Path Forward on 1st Anniversary*

WiredWest Communications Cooperative Corporation celebrated its first anniversary 
yesterday amid key efforts to bring the network to fruition.

The WiredWest Coop was formed on August 13, 2011 by 22 Western Massachusetts towns that 
had voted to create Municipal Lighting Plant (MLP) departments. The MLP legislation, 
Chapter 164 of Massachusetts General Laws, is over 100 years old, and was originally 
created to enable towns without electricity to build their own electric systems. In 1996, 
the capacity to offer telecommunications service was added to the legislation.

*Membership Tally at 38 Towns*

Over the past 12 months, an additional 16 towns have formed MLP departments and joined 
WiredWest, bringing the Cooperative membership to 38 member towns 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0016mVyQxtofzMa1dgmD6GKHaNnraKQQ4wBy9pSRIZ7rm-oZm687OWWECkZPGblTg3MiK0vJfcgAAJ_tRZfz-5AVVJw19JinbAH9yxoEA9c70SMVRmPd-hwNomyrwdQlP8mYEBzG-n0pvrtyC5b_EFN7P-APO0iZqUd> 
eager to have the state-of-the-art WiredWest fiber-optic network built.

*Efforts to Date*

Significant work has been undertaken to create a comprehensive business plan that will 
enable financing of the project. That work was made possible by grants from the 
Massachusetts Broadband Institute, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, and the Central 
Berkshire Fund - in addition to donations, cooperative membership fees, and thousands of 
volunteer hours.

The first major endeavor was creating a GIS map database of all utility poles, structures 
and roads in WiredWest towns for engineering use. Potential network distribution locations 
in each town were also visited and evaluated.

Recently WiredWest issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for high level network design and 
cost estimation 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0016mVyQxtofzNise0JaEm-BUQjnRjGKEntBwTYXL6Zw55lDo7gNxbPyv_3RXHOwAEAYiQQ5LY2cmg4uzXBptE7Sj2x5s9hSWc_NkHjGDEM2mhtR9k_pAlvSrkkg_uiLbglWwslVJ4TpFWUyBGQiE4uow5dEfxnzewM0x2oc9M0vLpz9g95B8yFZ1RNMhsQhT6R6H1Uy7HdeoU=>. 
After extensive review and due diligence,  Wired West chose the Matrix Design Group 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0016mVyQxtofzPDGwtVog7TxO9i9zb9L87-wsXhEkJq5gqZh88sUZ_S_wW_6OsLQLkU3-9C_TKZIvscqDtIf3EyY88i9Y94adbw3fXcmAx18c9sBNOP7oAhHg==> 
of East Hanover, NJ,  to complete the contract. They have designed and built fiber 
networks extensively in the Northeast, including Massachusetts, completing projects for 
private and public sector interests, in urban, suburban and rural areas. The work by 
Matrix is scheduled to be completed in early October, and will be used in WiredWest's 
business plan and for financing.

In April, WiredWest completed a comprehensive market survey, conducted by Market Street 
Research 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0016mVyQxtofzNbu42lz2wnlXPPF3bcfe8wMdgWHDAfGf9nzx8g7BUm3X4UU1T3Tx932JVRUxd5jHj9oznZAWu3u8wK5oUM_LjtcHZfnGyNOgzx3DUvyiyz9Kywur8l6Jbv>. 
The survey results indicate strong demand for the network, and provide important 
information for WiredWest pricing and packaging decisions, and subscription rate estimates.

*Residents Urged to Complete Support Card*

Last week WiredWest launched its online Support Card 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0016mVyQxtofzNmelCWIwOjktV84eY3z7ewemlTtOHM9DyoRaHU5k3VELJ-MsXiFtcTiR1rFm4go5-oKmtzYjnjIMJbuV6pStylxw7_LvPtLPjcrRM78ZJAITztSMlPsGpeljNkybe_FYCccfiIhvB3HQ==>, 
a request form for internet, phone and TV/video services from the future WiredWest 
network. A printed version of the card will also be delivered to residents in each town 
over the next several weeks. The results will be used to support financing and in 
decisions relating to where and when towns will be wired. We urge all WiredWest town 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0016mVyQxtofzMa1dgmD6GKHaNnraKQQ4wBy9pSRIZ7rm-oZm687OWWECkZPGblTg3MiK0vJfcgAAJ_tRZfz-5AVVJw19JinbAH9yxoEA9c70SMVRmPd-hwNomyrwdQlP8mYEBzG-n0pvrtyC5b_EFN7P-APO0iZqUd> 
residents and businesses to complete the card by September 15, 2012.

*Next Steps*

WiredWest will be focused on finalizing the business plan, including information from the 
network design and cost estimation, and the Support Card campaign, over the next couple of 
months. In addition, WiredWest will be working on potential financing options and an 
economic impact study to quantify the regional economic impact of the network.

*About WiredWest*

WiredWest is a municipal cooperative of Western Massachusetts towns 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0016mVyQxtofzMa1dgmD6GKHaNnraKQQ4wBy9pSRIZ7rm-oZm687OWWECkZPGblTg3MiK0vJfcgAAJ_tRZfz-5AVVJw19JinbAH9yxoEA9c70SMVRmPd-hwNomyrwdQlP8mYEBzG-n0pvrtyC5b_EFN7P-APO0iZqUd>working 
on designing, building and operating a fiber-optic network that will offer comprehensive, 
affordable and reliable internet, phone and video services to member town residents, 
businesses and institutions who want service.

A video compilation of legislators, businesspeople, educators, students and professionals 
talking about the proposed WiredWest network is available for online viewing here 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=dmbciodab&et=1105418063440&s=0&e=0016YopgPTO5GLexw_0R8hH7omJ6yyU2NXNvY4ZtGDB1zreAZfsHT_CHGXV0vGW0H_LMm-yNWNcw7ltUsolTWL5xQaewmTkJCoA-ipj0g4nbMnhjH6SsknMaA==>.


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