Thank you Joan for taking the minutes.  

SouthWest Common Council
Communications Committee Minutes
Meeting Date: March 15, 2012

Attendance: John Boutet (Location19), Joan Roby-Davison (Sector 4 CDC), John Lightfoot (Monroe County Legislator), Chris Arnone (Frontier by conference call)

TOPIC:
Review of Communications Committee Wi-Fi survey results to date, and determine next activity needed

NOTES:
The survey results were reviewed: 57 responses entered into the spreadsheet so far (from paper surveys), with 21 more to be entered. Joan will send Tarak Bolt and Chris Arnone a link to the survey result spreadsheet. The link to an on-line version of the survey form has been posted on Location 19 and will be sent out to community members to get more input. We are continuing to solicit survey input through the Arnett and Phillis Wheatley Libraries, which can connect with people who currently do not have computers or internet connectivity at home.

Joan will send information on demographics to Chris and Tarak, along with information on the Brooks Landing and other projects.

Discussions focused on possible phases of a neighborhood wi-fi system: we could create hot spots around neighborhood centers (SWAN will have wi-fi soon), and John suggested that public art could include a requirement to be a wi-fi hotspot. County and city owned buildings, poles and other facilities could be considered as locations for the hardware installations.

We also strategized the need for business owner input, and how best to get businesses to complete any surveys. Joan will reach out to RBA to see if we can get partners or sponsors, and to get input into the need or value of having wi-fi available in the south west quadrant.

Funding for the zone: Albany sources? Possible conversations can be held with the Lieutenant Governor or his staff and reps from Frontier. Local sources: RBA or corporate sponsors. The Frontier “Citynet” is available in many areas, but is a subscription or fee based system that allows Frontier to recoup some of the operating and installation costs.

Key points for next call: phasing wi-fi in over time and across the south west; contact RBA and U of R to seek support; get more responses to the surveys (paper and on-line). Joan will send Chris & Tarak additional information on southwest quadrant, demographics and projects.

Next meeting: Thursday, March 22 at 5 pm at the CDC Office (St. Mary’s Hospital).