Friday, June 29, 2007

Marc's Article (test post)

I've been playing with Google's file upload feature. I'm thinking you can view the article Marc Rousch forwarded to me some time ago by clicking here. Let me know...Thanks!

July's Meeting Date?

Because of summer vacations and my conflict with 7/26, I'm tempted to cancel our meeting in July, and propose that we reconvene at our regularly scheduled meeting on 8/23.

However, there are a few timely issues that would benefit by a meeting in July. Those issues include having a discussion on our reactions to our discussions with DANC, and where we'd like to go from here. Also, Karen St. Hilaire/SLC Chamber has secured $200K in member item funding from Senator Clinton that is to be used for broadband Internet development. She'd like to come talk to us about it and get our thoughts on how best to utilize the funds. I also expect to make great strides on our map project as we discussed during our meeting yesterday, so it would be a good time to make some decisions at that point as well.

So.....please weigh in on what works for you...7/19, 8/2 or not again until 8/23. I will announce a decision by 7/6. Thanks!

Monday, June 25, 2007

Meeting Agenda 06_28_07

St. Lawrence County
Information Technology Advisory Committee
Meeting Agenda
6/28/07, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
2nd Floor Conf Room, Public Safety Building, Court St., Canton
For Telephone Conference Bridge: Dial 328-2345, PIN#: 91804

Welcome New Committee Members

Review/accept minutes from 5/24/07 meeting.

Presenters: Mr. Robert Juravich and Mr. Thomas Sauter, DANC

News from the Chair

  • SLC IT Blog -- http://slcit.blogspot.com/ - for meeting minutes, agendas, notes, comments, supporting information, check it out today!
  • (nothing at time of distribution) Communications
  • (nothing at time of distribution) NYS Universal Broadband Access initiative
  • (nothing at time of distribution) ESD Report – strategies for expanding high-speed Internet access, due end of March?
  • (nothing at time of distribution) ESD Wired Buildings Program – Round 6

Old Business

  • SLC Service Map Inventory Initiative – updates, status
  • Update on County telephone system
  • Update on County website project - Rick Johnson to give an update on the County staff committee’s progress. He will introduce and circulate a survey created by the committee designed to gather input from all County staff. They are seeking our input and feedback. If agreeable, I’d like to propose a subcommittee be designated to work closely with this group.
  • Webcasting

New Business


Other


Action Items for Next Meeting


Next Meeting: I am unavailable to meet 7/26 – as earlier scheduled. Does the group want to meet in July? If so alternate dates…Thus., 7/19 or 8/2?

Monday, June 18, 2007

Preparation for meeting on 6/28

I thought it would be helpful to pass along to committee members the questions that were included in the invitation letter to Mr. Robert Juravich of DANC. Certainly, if you have any additional questions you'd like to pose, please pass them on. If you'd like to share your thoughts here - please do so. -Laura

The Committee discussed a possible meeting with you at its’ last meeting
and is interested in learning the
following:

a. What is DANC’s
plan to improve broadband access (price and availability) to
residential and
commercial markets in the rural portions of St. Lawrence
County.
b. Does DANC have programs (or plans)
which will re-invest revenues DANC
generates from the BOCES contract and
other County customers back into the underserved portions of the County.
It is hoped that such programs would reduce the cost of access to the DANC
network in order to encourage private sector development in the County.

Friday, June 15, 2007

02-22-07 Meeting Minutes

St. Lawrence County IT Advisory Committee

Meeting Minutes
February 22, 2007 (Thursday) 2:00 PM


Present: Laura Perry, Mike Cunningham, Rick Johnson, Francine Peretta, Nick Cutry, Marc Rusch,
Kelly Reed, Greg Stahl, Laurel Goolden, John Morgan, Pat Turbett, Phil Deleel, Jena Stone,
Mike Morgan.

Opening Comments by Laura Perry.

Vision of Advisory Committee (Laura Perry).
Problems we may face: Young people leaving area.
Large sections of County cannot purchase services.
Business is constrained to get onto networks/services.
Suggest we do a needs analysis:
Who has accessibility – who doesn’t – and why?
What other technologies are available (like Premier Wireless).
Look at opportunities for collaborations.
See what other entities are doing. How can we improve services?
Who is accessing the services already available?
Funding available?

Frequency of Meetings: Discussion on day or evenings. Tabled until next meeting.

Are we a standing committee? Maybe keep it less formal at this time.

Review of Draft Charter:
Missing goal (Nick Cutry). Provide input or data to BOL on how County uses
IT technology. What help we can provide County. Laura Perry says this goal
is under Goals/Role #3.
Extend this to include cellular also.

Group discussion:
Suggestion of map of County to show various services.
Show where they cross or who has what access.
Planning Department may be a good place to start for map and for grants.
Request one of their staff to join this team.

Discussion of towers – costly to do – can’t reach all areas.

NYS Telephone Association (NYSTA) has territory maps for State.

Pat T. Identify needs via maps, etc, and work with State Government to make in roads.

SLC Issues:
Phone System Project (Rick)
- Replace switch
- Additional Features
Website update (Rick)
Jail/Industrial Park update (Mike C.)

Next Meeting: How can group help County with projects?
March 22, 2007 @ 2:00 PM (Thursday)

03-22-07 Meeting Minutes

St. Lawrence County IT Advisory Committee

Meeting Minutes
March 22, 2007 (Thursday) 2:00 PM


Present: Sign in sheet handed out. (Laura Perry has)

Review/Accept Minutes from 2/22/07 Meeting: Yes.

Reviewed Changes to Draft Charter.

Mapping Resources:
  • Talk to providers to see what they can offer to show their services so we can
    map the services.
  • DANC (Carrie) has a map to show their network (CAD). She’ll get to Jon Montan (Co. Planning)
  • A member of this group will contact Verizon.
  • Mention of County contacts to obtain info (N. Aldrich from Central Service Dept.)
  • To include wireless (John Morgan from Premier Wireless).
  • Not satellites?
  • Show smaller telephones (TDS, Slick, Nicholville).
  • DANC (Carrie) and John Morgan to get information to Jon Montan at County Planning Dept..
  • Natalie Aldrich (County Central Services) also.
  • Mark Ryan – Time Warner to be contacted (Laura Perry to do).
  • Phil to get Nicholville information.

Map showing population of 2000.
Ability to show businesses? Jon Montan thought they may be able to obtain.

  • Show services locations – can be a selling point for businesses and people moving here.
  • Cell phone is something questioned. Is this political or technological?
    - Discussion of Wright article that was handed out.

Update on County Telephone System:

Natalie Aldrich & Rick Johnson spoke of County phone system and problems.
Discussion of 2 different phone systems (SLU & Massena Central School).
Discussed next steps of County to obtain new phone system.
Telephone system is on borrowed time. Suggest to jump on it now – not wait until
something happens.
Copy of vendors proposals to IT Committee.
Get outline from Natalie and proposals. Needs assessment to be updated.
Monies in budget, Board wants a group like this to push forward on County phone system.
Discussion of costs of County phone bills.
Talk with NYS Courts to pitch in money.

Next Time:
Look at County’s original Powerhouse proposal (needs assessment from 5 years ago).
Get copies of “presentations” from vendors who met with County on phone issues.
Listing of physical locations – employees.
Listing of priorities – phones up – network up.
Update on County website.

Future Meetings:
Have them on 4th Thursday of month?

04-26-07 Meeting Minutes

St. Lawrence County
Information Technology Advisory Committee

Meeting Minutes
4/26/07, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
2nd Floor Conf Room, Public Safety Building, Court St., Canton

Present: Sign-in sheet handed out. (Laura Perry has on file)

Review/accept minutes from 3/22/07 meeting. Minutes were accepted

Meeting Dates were set for the year: Meetings will be at 2:00 PM generally on the 4th Thursday of the month
5/24, 6/28, 7/26, 8/23, 9/27, 10/25, 11/15*, 12/20
*meet on 3rd Thurs this month because of Thanksgiving

SLC Service Map Initiative:



  • Phil Deleel reviewed the service maps for Verizon Wireless and Cingular. It was indicated in the discussions that the Time Warner Map should be forthcoming.

Laura Perry updated the committee on her findings from the past month.



  • Laura contacted Verizon for a list of DSL coverage. But indicated that they are hesitant to provide this information in the complete format we desire because they deem the information to be proprietary.

  • Laura also brought forward some information from the Connect Kentucky Initiative. The discussion centered on the process used in Kentucky for mapping resources, partnerships, and funding. Kristin Hall of connectkentucky.org indicated to Laura that they would be willing to share information with our group. The committee decided to go forward and get more information on the Kentucky Initiative. Laura will try and schedule a discussion between Kristin Hall and our committee via phone at a future meeting.

The committee discussed ways to get information on coverage since it appears some vendors are reluctant to share this information freely with our committee. Suggestions were as follows:



  • Surveys to end-users.

  • State and Local Government Pressure. Including using the tie-in to economic development to leverage this pressure.

The committee concluded that we need to complete the assessment phase then get the results mapped on GSI.

News from the Chair: Laura Perry



  • Laura conveyed the content of a conversation with Ronald Brach, ED of NYS Legislative Commission on Rural Resources
    -NYS Universal Broadband Access initiative. There is 5 million dollars available to develop Broadband Access Plans. This includes 2.5 million for downstate, and 2.5 million for upstate.
    -ESD Report – strategies for expanding high-speed Internet access, was due at the end of March. This should be out soon.

Update on County telephone system: (Natalie Aldrich):



  • Natalie reviewed the Powerhouse Consulting Report that was the basis for the last phone system RFP in 2001. The results of this RFP were rejected by the Board of Legislators at that time.

  • Natalie also reviewed how the process has gone forward since that time. This includes information meetings with vendors in 2005, and the inclusion of $400,000 in the 2007 County budget to replace the phone system.

  • The committee discussed the use of consultants in the process. County Staff indicated that there was a limited amount of in-house resources to design a system, and that a consultant could fill in these gaps. The committee suggested that the County utilize outside resources more in terms of a Project Manager rather than design consultants. This would allow for the County to utilize its’ in-house resources to the greatest degree possible.

County Copier Management Program: (Mike Cunningham)



  • Mike asked the committee for their experiences in shifting printing from small, expensive to operate printers to more cost efficient networked copiers. Various members of the committee shared their experiences with the copier management programs in their organizations.

Next Meeting: 5/24 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm


Meeting Adjourned


05-24-07 Meeting Minutes

St. Lawrence County IT Advisory Committee

Meeting Minutes
May 24, 2007 (Thursday) 2:00 PM

Present: Sign in sheet handed out. (Laura Perry has)

Review/Accept Minutes from 4/26/07 Meeting: Yes.

Conference Call from ConnectKentucky:
They provided a map of Kentucky showing services, Broadband Service growth, Broadband Data Collection.
Gave a brief overview of what ConnectKentucky is about.
It is a Pilot project for “connected nations”.
Goals (2004)
1. 100% deployment of broadband by end of 2007.
2. Dramatic increase in internet access.
3. Meaningful on-line presence. Local government was 30-35% and now is 75% that have websites.
4. Local demand creation – to have communities in strategic plan.

Accomplishments:
1. 60% to 93% households are able to use broadband. With last few (4%) provided a cost share
For satellite solutions. Cost share from public and private funds.
2. 20% increase in computer use.
3. 75% there (from goal #3 above).
4. Have local teams in all 120 counties.

Other activities pursued:
Funds do not go from ConnectKentucky. ConnectKentucky may show providers where there is no or little service.
Bring resources together then look for funding for private sector.
Someone asked how much is public and how much privately funded? About 20% is private/80% state/federal.
Tennessee (by executive order) to do similar project.

Cost Share Program – Wildblue is there for Kentucky. Not for monthly service fee – for private sector share.

Funding – Community Connect Grant is by USDA Rural Utilities Grant. ConnectKentucky proceeded with this.
ARC Funding
DRA Funding
State Economic Development Grant

Question of “How does NYS compare to Kentucky with population dispursement?
Laura Taylor replied: Provided driven to obtain State interest. Gives State access to all citizens.

Laura Perry mentioned how we would be interested in Cost Share Program and getting information for citizens.

Laura Taylor – Kentucky program is done in 7 months – but won’t be completely done. It started in Kentucky,
Now they may take to other states. Talked with people in New York. Seems to be a state level interest.

Call completed 3PM.



Discussion on Map. Map is most important thing to do at this point. Haven’t heard from Verizon (Laura Perry to call)
Timer Warner may have map to us in 1-2 weeks.

Mention of USDA Grant – should submit for equipment to get service to citizens. (won’t cover monthly cost).

Premier Wireless – has 3 phases of their project. They are in Phase 1 now. Ending Phase 1 soon.

Jon Montan has DANC map.


*TASK: Planning to assist in obtaining a list of addresses from SLC citizens. Take this generated list of physical
Addresses and phone numbers and pin point them on a map. Check they services.

Premier Wireless to get us a better map.

NYS Exec. Order to Webcast:
Does this have to be realtime? Someone said yes.
Although this is an unfunded mandate.
This will be a use of what we are working on – IT.
This is for NYS Entities (have to show – but don’t have to copy. View only).

NYS Universal Broadband Access Initiative:
Ron Stanton from Empire State Development - $5,000,000 funding for Unviersal Broadband.
He’s not sure where the money is. Will keep in touch.

ESD Report – still forthcoming. Report in draft form – will let us know.

Sixth (6th) Round of Wire Buildings Funding - includes wireless in communities. Funding available to individual providers.
Think about this for other areas (Piercefield) that are not being served. Make it competitive for other providers.
More for high tech businesses – not County updating phones & internets?
Premier Wireless has received funding from Round 5 (20 wireless application, 13? Funded/ 6 wired, 3 funded)

Update from County Attorney – Mr. Lekki
Private carriers on Committee. It’s okay as per scope of committee.
Ok to ask provides for information on features.
Laura Perry disclosed past work with Nicholville Phone Company.

Bob Juravich (DANC) would like to meet and talk with us.
Propose inviting him to our next meeting – all agreed.
Discuss what we are doing – find out about DANC.
What are their plans for areas without services?

Update on County Phone System (Rick Johnson):
Natalie Aldrich and Mike Cunningham did leg work of RFP.
Checked with other Counties to see if they used consultants.
RFP to be needs based then obtain opinions of vendor.

Blog Site for everyone to contact:
Question: What involvement for each of us – what is the County requesting us to do?
Attempt to reach out to County people to bring a lot of this to lite.

Verizon to have a time line.
Planning can assist in information for broadband map (with Verizon’s information).

Adjourned.
Next meeting June 28, 2007 (2-4 pm). Same conference room.