Get on the Bus: Chamber Offers Ride to Broadband Hearing
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The hearing before the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets will be held Thursday, Feb. 14, at 11 a.m. at the State House in Hearing Room A-2.
It's the only hearing that will be held on a bill filed last fall that would create a Massachusetts Broadband Institute and establish a $25 million incentive fund to promote high-speed Internet access in the state's underserved areas.
State Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, a strong supporter of the measure, said only one hearing was scheduled in an effort to expedite the bill's passage.
Because of the distance and importance of the hearing, the Southern Berkshire Chamber decided to offer transportation for local officials and interested community members who would like to testify or just attend the hearing, said interim chamber Executive Director Brian Killeen.
The goal is to encourage enough people to attend to make a strong statement in support of the initiative, he said.
"I can promote this area so much better if we have broadband access," said Killeen. "We're doing anything we can to support Berkshire Connect, which has been behind [the push for broadband] for years."
While there are a handful of rural areas around the state that have limited or no access to high-speed Internet, the bulk of the underserved areas are in Western Mass. That was a point made clear by Gov. Deval Patrick when he announced the initiative last summer in Becket, a Berkshire County hilltown with limited access.
Some 32 towns across the state have no access other than telephone dial-up, notoriously slow in accessing the increasingly graphical and application-heavy sites on the World Wide Web. Another 63 communities are considered "underserved" because of limited high-speed options.
Among those planning to testify are Donald Dubendorf, president of Berkshire Connect, and Linda Dunlavey, president of Pioneer Valley Connect. The two organizations have worked to make broadband access more affordable for local businesses and agencies and helped develop programs such as the Berkshire Wireless Learning Initiative.
"We need to get this bill to the Legislature and get it passed," said Sharon Ferry, Berkshire Connect's business manager, adding that the lack of broadband Internet access affects the area's economic and educational climate.
Ferry said she's heard from real estate agents who've lost sales when potential homebuyers learn that access is limited. The increasing use of technology in the schools means teachers are assigning research projects unaware that students may have no access at home, she said, and state and local governments are offering more and more resources online.
"Today's global economy requires that every corner of our commonwealth be wired for the 21st century," said Patrick, when announcing the broadband bill had been filed in October.
The Connects' are running a joint survey on broadband needs in the region until March 1. That has gotten a good response, said Ferry. "Towns have been very creative in getting this out without incurring a lot of expense."
Some have sent paper surveys out with census forms or passed them out with dump stickers. Sheffield turned in 750 the other day, she said. It's also posted in public places, like libraries, for those who don't have Internet access.
Survey results are also identifying areas that would appear to have access but don't, said Ferry, such as some outlying neighborhoods in Great Barrington. "We're encouraging people to fill in the survey so we can find [those areas].
The Southern Berkshire Chamber is also encouraging anyone who needs a ride to Boston for the hearing to sign up by Monday, Feb. 11. The cost is $25 and you have to bring your own lunch.
"We thought to simplify things and organize the bus to get people there," said Killeen.
The Dufour coach bus leaves promptly at 7:30 a.m. from the Prime Outlets at Lee on Feb. 14, said Kristin Cherin, executive assistant at the chamber, and will begin the return trip home no later than 5 p.m.
"It's really open to anyone. We're just trying to fill a bus or two ... we'll take anybody," said Cherin. "We would welcome any concerned citizen who wants to be part of the mob."
Seats are $25 per person, cash or checks payable to Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce. Contact 413-528-4284 or kristin@southernberkshirechamber.com to reserve a seat no later than Monday, Feb. 11.
Can't make it to Boston? Written testimony will be accepted until Feb. 15. Send it to Broadband Initiative, Chairman David Flynn, Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures & State Assets, Room 466, State House, Boston, MA 02133.
Clip art courtesy of www.designedtoat.com.
