Present: Committee Members in Bold: Legislators Danny Ross, Carol Tytler, Sandy Price, Kathie Arnold and John Steger. Dan Dineen, Director of Planning, Rob Corpora, IT Director, Terry Fitzgerald, Virgil resident and SUNY Cortland Biology Professor, Karl Klein, Solon resident and OCC Computer Science Professor, Olivia Hersey, Harford resident and Systems Administrator at TC-3, Sue Morgan, Clerk of the Legislature, Eric Mulvihill and Christine Laubenstein, Media.
Mr. Ross called the meeting to order at 11 AM. He asked all to introduce themselves. He stated that the purpose of the committee is to explore opportunities to increase broadband in outlying areas of the County. He then asked Mr. Corpora to define Broadband to the group. Mr. Corpora said that broadband is everything faster than dial up and includes satellite TV, DSL, Clearwire and wireless internet from power lines. The speed is dependent on factors such as the number of people using it and the distance from the source. Ms. Price asked what phone companies offer the service. Mr. Corpora said that Frontier has been aggressive at populating areas with DSL, Verizon is involved and Clearwire fills in, in some areas. Mr. Ross asked how many phone companies service the County. Mr. Corpora answered Verizon, Frontier and Clearwire which is located on towers.
Mr. Klein asked if you cannot
get cell phone can you get Clearwire. Mr. Corpora said you may be able to
however it is separate from cell phone service. It is cheaper than DSL and
cable (about $30 per month) with speed of ½ M down speed and 56 K upload. He
added that this doesn’t work in the
Ms. Tyler asked who provides broadband from power lines. Mr. Corpora said it is the power companies. Mr. Fitzgerald said there is a cooperative measure between New Visions and National Grid and suggested that we request to be part of their expansion plan. Ms. Hersey said we also have to deal with other power companies as she has NYSAC as her source.
Ms. Tytler suggested the
committee start with mapping the County to identify where we don’t have
coverage and find out what services are available in what areas to better
understand the choices we have in speed, access and costs associated with the
services. Ms. Price suggested that contact be made with
Mr. Ross asked that cell towers be included in the mapping. Mr. Klein told the group that Carman Branca, a representative from New Visions will be speaking to a group in Virgil on Thursday. Mr. Ross suggested Mr. Branca be invited to speak to this committee also and asked the Clerk to contact him for availability. Mr. Ross said he has also had contact with a Fabius Company that locates equipment on farm structures. They give a farmer free access and that picks up connection to others in the area. Mr. Corpora stated that is called point to multipoint. Mr. Ross will contact them to see if they will speak to the committee. Ms. Hersey asked if that concept could also be used on utility poles. Mr. Corpora said there are restrictions on poles as adding an antenna to a pole makes it a lightening rod.
Mr. Ross urged Town Zoning Boards to require that other companies be allowed to use towers within their jurisdiction. He asked Mr. Dineen to include in the mapping where present services begin and end. Mr. Dineen agreed but said that companies are not always forthcoming with information.
Ms. Hersey said she has heard that Frontier is looking to push their services further. Mr. Corpora said that Frontier uses fiber boxes on poles to provide DSL and phone service an additional two miles.
Ms. Tytler asked Mr. Dineen if
it would be helpful to conduct our own survey to include rural school
districts and businesses for their economic side to include in the grant
application. Mr. Dineen said the grant will be more viable depending on the
number of people identified who will use the service. Ms. Price suggested that
a County newsletter could include survey information although there has not
yet a timeline to begin the publication. Ms. Hersey asked what the timeframe
if for RFP. Mr. Ross said that we have missed the deadline. Ms. Tytler
explained that the Governor proposed a 5 million dollar pot be set aside for
the year 2008 with a possible addition of 10 million to be added. Mr. Dineen
said the next deadline will be October of this year. Ms. Tytler said another
avenue to distribute survey information is through
After discussion of survey
information needed, Mr. Klein volunteered to work on a draft survey. Mr. Ross
and Ms. Hersey offered to help on this. Mr. Dineen added that he had spoken to
a Verizon employee who resides in
The group concluded by establishing their next meeting to be Wednesday, May 7th at 9:30 AM in Room 304. The meeting agenda will be to review the maps from the Planning Department, the survey, and schedule company speakers if available.
Meeting adjourned at 11:40 AM