Draft Minutes

October 9, 2013

The Halifax Broadband/Economic Development Committee met at Wednesday, Oct 9, 2013. The meeting was called to order at  6:30 p.m. Present were Curtis Carroll, chairman pro tem, Earl Holtz, and Gretchen Becker.

The situation with the VTel broadband was discussed. Holtz reported that VTel has lost several small grants because of noncompliance, but the major grant to bring broadband to rural areas is still valid. He said that initially, Halifax will receive service via towers in Whitingham, Wilmington, Guilford, and Marlboro. Eventually, a tower in Halifax Center will provide backup service.

An April article in Vermont Digger was discussed:

http://vtdigger.org/2013/04/12/5-million-cell-phone-expansion-grant-to-vtel-under-question/

A more recent article can be found here:

http://vtdigger.org/2013/05/04/5-million-vtel-cell-service-grant-cut-in-half/

Holtz said that service via VTel will be delayed, but VTel principal Diane Guité did not return a phone call.

No action was taken at the meeting.

Respectively submitted,

Gretchen Becker,

Secretary pro tem