This was sent along by Win Healy of Charlemont:

From: "WesternMA Connect, Inc."
Date: October 20, 2009
Subject: WesternMA CONNECT - OCTOBER 2009 UPDATE

GOVERNOR SELECTS MBI & CONNECT APPLICATIONS AS A PRIORITY
Governor Deval Patrick announced last week that the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) and corresponding regional applications submitted by the WesternMA Connect, the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) and their 16 regional partners, were prioritizedamong the top three broadband projects for Massachusetts. The federal National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) requested that each Governor prioritize projects submitted to the Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) for their state. This prioritization will be one the factors considered by the NTIA when reviewing these applications. The NTIA is scheduled to announce their grant awards for this first round of funding in mid-November 2009. A second round of BTOP funding is to be made available in the coming months.

For more information about the Governor’s announcement go to www.massbroadband.org, or for information about the regional applications submitted, go to www.pioneervalleyconnect.org. To view all the applications submitted to BTOP for this first round of funding, go towww.broadbandUSA.gov.

CONNECT TO RESPOND TO MBI CONSULTANT SERVICES REQUEST
In September, the MBI issued a Request For Proposal (RFP) to pre-qualify entities that could be hired by the MBI to provide consulting services. Connect has submitted a proposal to offer such consulting services to support the efforts of the MBI. Connect is offering their extensive knowledge and experience working on broadband issues in the region, access to expertise on the telecom industry and infrastructure in the region, and relationships with the many stakeholders located in the region that can also support and respond to the MBI’s needs.

DTC REGIONAL INVESTIGATION
In June 2009, the MA Department of Telecommunications & Cable (DTC) initiated a regional investigation of Verizon’s telephone service quality inWestern Massachusetts. Over the summer, the DTC solicited written comments from citizens and held five public hearings in the region. This investigation process continues. The DTC posts on their website the latest filings – go to www.mass.gov/dtc and click on “Request for Comments” under “Hot Topics”. Posted are the latest filings made by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office and the IBEW Local 2324’s requesting additional information and documentation about Verizon telephone service quality and identified service problems.

RESOURCES & ADVOCACY
Don’t forget! If you are located in an area without access to broadband and have not yet responded to the MBI’s online survey, please do so! The MBI and MassGIS have developed an interactive online tool (designed to be dial-up friendly!) to further refine broadband coverage data. Go towww.massbroadband.org/mapping/survey.html to access the survey.

The FCC is developing a National Broadband Plan, "to ensure that all people of the United States have access to broadband capability." The Plan is scheduled to be completed in February 2010. To find out more about the Plan and the different ways to participate in this process, go towww.broadband.gov.

For more information…
A website for WesternMA Connect is in development. Until completed, the websites of www.bconnect.org or www.pioneervalleyconnect.org and contact information for the former Connects will continue to be utilized. For more information about WesternMA Connect, please contact: Sharon Ferry, 413-496-9606 or sferry@bconnect.org, or Jessica Atwood, 413-774-1194 x101 or jatwood@frcog.org.