Berkshire Connect, Inc. and Pioneer Valley Connect today announced that their Beta Test Program has launched wireless high-speed internet (broadband) networks in Florida, New Salem, and Worthington, Massachusetts. These two regional organizations, jointly known as the Connects, are devoted to creating a robust telecommunications landscape that offers affordable and reliable broadband services throughout Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden Counties. The Beta Test Program will test wireless technologies in limited areas of selected rural communities, and is just one aspect of the two-year Connecting Western Massachusetts effort.
Currently, one-third of the 101 municipalities in Western Massachusetts have no access to basic broadband technology, such as Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL) or cable modem broadband. Many other communities in the region only have broadband access in limited areas. While the region awaits legislative approval of Governor Patrick’s $25 million bill targeted to address this broadband problem, the Connects have implemented a short-term effort in three unserved communities through their Beta Test Program.
In September 2006, the Connects were awarded a Connecting Western Massachusetts Regional Priority Grant from the John Adams Innovation Institute, a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, which supports technology-based economic development initiatives in the Commonwealth. The award enables the Connects to build upon previous work conducted to address the telecommunications needs of the region and to pursue short- and long-term solutions to increase broadband access to unserved areas. Using a portion of the grant funds awarded, the Connects have developed the Beta Test Program.
Seventeen applications were received for participation in this Program, from which three were selected for funding. The goal of the Beta Test Program is to install and evaluate different wireless technologies in selected areas of the three chosen unserved communities. These new networks are available to serve municipal buildings, businesses and residences located within a limited area of each community.
According to Linda Dunlavy, Co-Chair of Pioneer Valley Connect, “Through the Beta Test Program, we are gaining real world experience for how these technologies currently deployed in urban and municipal areas work in the hostile environment of rural areas. We need to help people find affordable solutions now while truly sustainable solutions can be realized through public-private partnerships.â€
The Beta Test networks, functional as of October 1, provide wireless hotspots for those whose homes or businesses are outside the network’s reach. The hotspot in Florida is at the Abbott Memorial School. The New Salem Library is the hotspot in New Salem. In Worthington, hotspots are located in the parking lots of the Corners Grocery and the Conwell Elementary School. Guidelines for use of these hotspots are available from each of the communities and are posted on the Connects websites.
Each community network is supported by an Internet T1 circuit and extends broadband utilizing at least two wireless radio nodes and multiple antennas. Radio equipment purchased by the Connects for testing includes products by Colubris, BelAir, and Proxim. The Connects also received a donation of equipment from Crocker Communications for use in portions of the wireless networks in two of the communities.
The Connects have held meetings with each of the three participating communities to review the network design, technologies utilized and the procedures to follow to access the networks. The Connects will continue to provide technical assistance to the communities and will monitor each network for a one-year period. Over the course of the Program, the Connects will document their findings and make them available online for reference by other communities who may want to implement similar efforts.
“These important tests will bring at least some connectivity to these three broadband deprived areas and in the process help sort fact from fiction with regard to the claims made by vendors.†said Donald R. Dubendorf, President of Berkshire Connect. “However, in the final analysis, our citizens must have sustainable services delivered over systems that can grow and adapt to the region’s needs.â€
For additional information about the Beta Test Program, contact Maggie Bergin, Project Manager, at 509-998-5930 or maggieanne@mac.com. For additional information about Connecting Western Massachusetts, visit www.bconnect.org and www.pioneervalleyconnect.org or call Jessica Atwood (Pioneer Valley Connect) at 413- 774-1194 x101 or Sharon Ferry (Berkshire Connect, Inc.) at 413-496-9606.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.
Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.
The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.
Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.
Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.
Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.
Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.
The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.
The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.
Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.
Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.
He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.
Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.
Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.
Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.
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