Greetings Everyone,

There are a number of groups who have been and continue to work to bring broadband services to all of Western Massachusetts. I propose that this broadband implementation is intimately intertwined with the current and future role of the PEG model. While current projects are dealing with middle mile expansion, last mile considerations have already begun, particularly with groups such as Wired West. The role of PEG (and other) community media centers as anchor institutions needs to begun being addressed today. There has already been interest expressed in gathering Western Mass PEG center representatives with those of the MBI and Axia, who has been selected to run the middle mile network.

It is with these concerns, and with any others you may have, and because we have not had a caucus of our Western Mass centers, that I would like to solicit interest in having a meeting.

I may be speaking in tongues to some who receive this. One of the particular challenges we face in Western Mass is being underfunded and understaffed. If so, even more reason.

I'm currently also planning the next Mass Access Mini-Conference, and one distinct possibility is to hold multiple statewide mini-conferences, the Western Mass one focusing on issues such as these.

Please do respond with your thoughts. I know you are busy. If you have to, send me a private email to nctv@northamptontv.org

Thanks much,

Al