Present: Danny Ross, Kathie Arnold, Carol Tytler, Sandy Price, Angie Wyatt , Dan Dineen, Karl Klein, Terry Fitzgerald, Olivia Hersey, Christine Laubenstein

The meeting was called to order at 9:30a.m. by Chairman Sandy Price

MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 9, 2008 COMMITTEE MADE BY MS. PRICE - 2^ND BY MS. TYTLER - ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSION/REPORT

Brad Matthews- Verizon - Unavailable

Mapping Update of County- Dan Dineen County Planning – Mr. Dineen provided a Telecommunications & Public Utilities map. Mr. Dineen indicated that he is still slowly receiving information from the cable companies. Mr. Dineen pointed out that not all the cell towers show up on the map. Mr. Fitzgerald commented that the Haefele Cable Company nor Verizon will come as far as his residence.

Comments made:

· Ms. Arnold believes that they will need to run fiber optic.

· Mr. Dineen will continue to pester the cable companies to get more information

· Mr. Fitzgerald commented that people are not aware that there is something better out there.

Review of Survey- Karl Klein

Comments made/Actions taken:

· Many of the Committee members commented that Mr. Klein spent a lot of time and did a great job in preparing the survey.

· Ms. Tytler spoke to the Homer School District and the District approved sending the survey home with 6^th graders and under. It would be a good idea to put the survey on bright paper such as lime green so it will be more noticeable to the parents. Ms. Tytler believes that a cover letter should go with the survey. Ms. Tytler offered to prepare the cover letter.

· Ms. Hersey sent the survey via email to TC3 faculty and staff. She will also be leaving flyers and posters at banks, stores and the library in Marathon . She will also have something in the Marathon newspaper regarding the survey.

· Mr. Klein commended Mr. Dineen on how quickly he was able to get the information out.

· Mr. Fitzgerald commented that people need to know about this new technology and understand that they can get it.

· Mr. Carman from New Visions indicated at the last meeting that he was worried about the demand. He needs 25% of the Virgil population. Right now he only works with National Grid but Mr. Fitzgerald thought that New York State Electric and Gas would probably come on board.

· Greek Peak is interested.

· Ms. Price said that this is coming together fast.

THE SURVEY RESPONSES (TO DATE) ARE AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW FROM SUSAN MORGAN, CLERK OF THE LEGISLATURE OR ANGIE WYATT, SECRETARY TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR . THE SURVEY RESPONSES (TO DATE) WILL ALSO BE AN ATTACHMENT TO THESE MINUTES.

Other Ideas/Actions:

Email the number of surveys needed for the schools to Mr. Dineen at the Planning Department: ddineen@cortland-co.org.

Invite Frontier, Haefele and Clearwater Companies to attend the next meeting. Have just 2 of the companies the same day at different times.

Mr. Dineen advised the Committee that there will be a Telecommunications Summit in late May or early June.

Ms. Tytler suggested that some of the Committee members appear on the Public Access channel to dedicate a TV program to Rural Broadband Access. She will look into to this.

A letter to the Editor in the Cortland Standard from this Committee was suggested. A guest editorial would even be better. Mr. Klein agreed to write a letter to the Editor next week.

Maybe a series in the Cortland Standard every week from the providers.

The providers may be interested in providing the matching funds for any possible grants that are available.

The next meeting will be held on May 22, 2008 at 8:00a.m. in Room 304 of the County Office Building .

The meeting was adjourned at 10:20a.m.

The Notes/Minutes taken by Angie Wyatt , Secretary to Scott Schrader, County Administrator