[Hidden-tech] Wi-Fi on Ashfield agenda

[Rich Roth]

*Wi-Fi on Ashfield agenda*

*

By DIANE BRONCACCIO Recorder Staff*(Greenfield Recorder, Sept 15, 2014)

ASHFIELD --- Special town meeting voters will be asked to approve or 
reject a plan to set up wireless Internet service for town center 
residents, using box-shaped antennas on the Town Hall steeple.

...

The special town meeting takes place on Sept. 22, beginning at 7 p.m. in 
the Town Hall.

Almost a year ago, Christopher Gray of Ashfield proposed setting up a 
wireless Internet service for village center residents, by linking up to 
the town's new Massachusetts Broadband Institute highspeedconnection. To 
do so, he would install white, rectangular- shaped antennas on the Town 
Hall steeple. In exchange forbeing allowed to link to the Town Hall's 
broadband, Gray said he is willing to be the Internet service provider 
for town government, free of charge --- a savings of about $1,200 per year.

This Internet proposal drew some concerns that the antennas would spoil 
the appearance of the historic steeple. It also raised fears that, in 
settling for limited wireless service, the town would be bypassed for 
superior, broadband cable access through the WiredWest "last mile" 
initiative.

A mock-up of the antennas has been up on the steeple and has drawn 
little complaint. Also, proponents of the plan say that this limited 
Internet service, only available to service subscribers along clear 
sight lines from the steeple, would not supplant more expansive plans to 
fully wire the town, probably sometime within the next five years.


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You can reach Diane Broncaccio at:dbroncaccio at recorder.com 
<mailto:dbroncaccio at recorder.com>or 413-772-0261, ext. 277
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