MEETING OF BROADBAND ACCESS INFRASTRUCTURE BOARD (BAIB) SUBCOMMITTEE ON TECHNOLOGY AND MEANS OF DELIVERY (TMD)

 

Sam Elowitch, Chair

Gerry Dube

Chris Johnson

Fletcher Kittredge

Scott Morrison

 

1:30pm                        Lunch & Informal Discussion

2:00pm                        Opening Remarks and Brief Presentation by the Chair

2:15pm                        Discussion

                                    1. Define broad objectives of the TMD Subcommittee

                                    2. The challenge: Why are we here? Of what relevance is TMD in proposals for gubernatorial policy, especially if the primary questions at hand are logistical and financial? Are most TMD issues likely to be resolved in the marketplace?
3. Assuming we do consent to discuss means of delivery for broadband Internet access, let’s zero in on a few that seem to show some promise for areas of low density and penetration:

a) WiMax (IEEE 802.16x, cf. www.intel.com) How can the state encourage the growth of high-speed wireless networks in rural Maine? How can local resistance to the proliferation of towers be managed/overcome/accommodated? How can we encourage the piggybacking of wireless broadband on new infrastructure intended for cellular telephone service?

b) xMax (cf. www.xgtechnology.com) is a combination of narrowband and low-power wideband radio-frequency technologies that is showing promise as a possible MoD for high-speed Internet access (HSIA).

c) Fiber-to-the-Home (FTH). Can anybody determine how much it would cost to wire the whole state with fiber? If we can’t, do we have any sense at least of the order of magnitude of cost ($100 million, $1 billion, $10 billion)?

                                   
4. What contribution will the TMD Subcommittee make to the BAID Final Report to the Governor?

 

4:45pm                        Schedule Next Subcommittee Meeting

5:00–5:30pm                Adjourn