Connect Harrison

03/30/2022

Have you heard the news? Consolidated Communications is proposing to implement fiber throughout Harrison in 2023! The Harrison Broadband Committee will hear from Consolidated about their proposal to provide townwide broadband at no cost to the municipality.  This presentation is first item on the Committee‘s agenda, A summary of other provider options will be presented as well. This is a great opportunity for the public to hear directly from this provider, to meet the people behind the broadband scenes making this happen, and to let your voice be heard with comments and Q&A. It will be a recorded Zoom meeting so if you’re not able to attend, a recorded copy can be made available. We’re so close!

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4723175257?pwd=Zm0xTGxlVHVMdm9vUEorUTF3MWliUT09

Meeting ID: 472 317 5257 Password: 767173

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

10/20/2021

On Wed, Oct 20, 2021 at 9:08 AM Phil Devlin wrote:
To all,

Per our schedule, our next meeting is scheduled for tomorrow(every other Thursday) at 9am, Town Office meeting room as well as Zoom.

I apologize for the lateness in getting the agenda out (I miss Clara already). I've attached this week's agenda.
Here is the Zoom link (also on the agenda document).
Zoom Meeting Link

Committee members, please let me know (one or another) if you will be attending even if just for the first half hour, as early in the meeting both Daryll Sterling (grants) and Andrew Butcher(GPCOG COLAB and now Maine Connectivity Authority) are scheduled to participate.

As well as the usual agenda items, we will also be discussing an impeding "pilot" (my definition of pilot is first use of the technology in Harrison covering a partial geographic area) implementation of fixed wireless technology.

Always open to suggestions (such as getting agenda out earlier) or agenda additions.

Phil

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

09/07/2021

Next meeting is this Thursday. (Agenda says zoom only but we are actually holding it live and zoom at the Harrison town office. ) Here is the zoom link for those unable to attend in person. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9868925836?pwd=dCtrV1Vwejk0YjBZTDVtK0ZHaXh3QT09
At this meeting we will be introduced to Harrison‘s new grant writer Darryl. hope to see you there! 

08/26/2021

Reminder of our HBAC meeting this morning at 9 am. The committee will be will meet at the fire station Community Roo This week’s agenda feature’s a Zoom meeting with Spectrum‘s Melinda Kenney, Sr. Reg. Coord. senior regional coordinator. with Spectrum this morning. Public is welcome to attend either.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9868925836?pwd=dCtrV1Vwejk0YjBZTDVtK0ZHaXh3QT09

08/24/2021

3 PUBLIC HOT SPOTS ARE READY!
⚡️Harrison Food Bank
⚡️Crystal Lake Park
⚡️Harrison Town Office

This spring, the HBAC was granted equipment and install for three public hotspots, FREE (grant monies) for up to 3 years! While we realize this is not the long-term answer to our universal broadband issues, we hope it will be received as a viable and affordable short term solution. The HotSpots are all external and are testing out at speeds of 9:1. SCS (the installer) ensures us this is adequate enough to do most Internet activities (streaming movies and heavy gaming may not work well).

📍To access this service, go to the parking area at any of the above locations and position within 100’ of the building (to access signal). On your laptop or cell phone …
> Settings
> Wi-fi Connect (ex: “Crystal Lake Park”)
> Agree to the Terms of Use.
That’s it! No password required.

Note: Too many people on the connection, streaming, etc. may result in slower speeds. Currently, there are no time limits for use at any of these locations, however Crystal Lake Park may be ‘snoozed’ for the winter months. Info signs will be installed in the next few weeks. We trust that the public spaces will continue to be treated with respect and that the HotSpot service not be abused. FYI … they do spot-monitor for illegal internet activity.

😳 If you have issues or concerns with the connection, the install provider’s (SCS) phone number is on the Terms of Use page (207-620-1032).
😀 If you find this service to be helpful and valuable, please let the HBAC or Town Manager know. They appreciate constructive feedback and positive comments 😉.
👏 A BIG shout out to Community Concepts Finance Corp, Maine West, Northern Forest Center, and S&C Entertainment and of course the HBAC for helping bring this valuable to our community!



08/23/2021

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT … Melinda Kinney, Regional Senior Director of Spectrum/Charter will be joining us next Thursday at our regular Broadband meeting for a public Q&A session. If you’ve been wanting to talk with someone within that company about your service, here is your opportunity. Feel free to let others know.

Join us on Zoom Thu., 8/26 @ 9 am. Copy/paste the link below.

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

08/05/2021

Another short-term, or long-term solution?

A report from Speedtest found average Starlink median download speed approaching 100 Mbps, with median upload speeds very similar to fixed broadband

07/22/2021

Our next meeting is today at 9 AM via zoom.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9868925836?pwd=dCtrV1Vwejk0YjBZTDVtK0ZHaXh3QT09

Public is encouraged to attend.

AGENDA

Public Session – Beginning at 9 AM – ZOOM ONLY TODAY
Welcome and Introductions
1. Approve minutes
2. Public Participation
3. Old Business
a. Report back on Hotspot Status
b. Report back on new membership (Peter)
c. Report back on Lakes Region Cohort Status (Phil/Clara)
d. Report back on Short term solutions (Walter)
4. New Business – Next Steps
a. Renewal of connectharrison domain name
b. Prep for August Select Board Meeting
c. Community engagement (Wendy/Clara)
d. Maine Community Foundation Grant Report
e. GPCOG intern offer: Nov 22-Oct 23, $3,500 (Phil)
5. Other Business
a. Mia Purcell (Community Concepts)
b. Travis Kennedy (Cumberland County)
c. Andrew Butcher (GPCOG)
6. Next Steps
a. Set time and place for next meeting
7. ADJOURN

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

07/20/2021

Good morning,

Municipal networks and open access infrastructure are hot topics as is the future of technology.

Private-sector investment alone is not closing our digital gaps. The Public Infrastructure/Private Service model offers a promising solution that is precisely targeted to the areas with greatest broadband gaps, frequently those with lower income levels and lower population densities.

07/09/2021

HELP WANTED … The Broadband Committee is looking for a volunteer to help with community engagement and social media postings. 1-3 hours a week? This is a great way to help with our overall mission of achieving digital equity thhroughout our community. Message here or call/text Wendy Gallant at 207-615-9398. Thanks! 

05/28/2021

There is lots of chatter about the cost of monthly internet service…check out the articles below.

Broadband costs too much for some people. Fixing that won't be easy. >>>
https://www.benton.org/headlines/broadband-costs-too-much-some-people-fixing-wont-be-easy?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters

Spectrum is forcing full-price plans on people seeking FCC benefit. >>>https://www.benton.org/headlines/spectrum-forcing-full-price-plans-people-seeking-fcc-benefit?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters

Paying for Low-income Broadband. >>> https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2021/05/27/paying-for-low-income-broadband/

Spectrum is forcing customers who are eligible for a new federal subsidy for internet service to opt into full-price plans once the subsidy runs out. The policy appears to skirt rules set forth by the Federal Communications Commission, which is running the Emergency Broadband Benefit program. The $3...

05/23/2021

The Broadband Committee and the Hot Spot contractors met on Thursday to tour and further evaluate the three selected locations for public broadband access. The chosen sites are Harrison Food Bank, Harrison town office parking lot, and Crystal Lake Park.  This is a great short-term opportunity to help our disconnected residents. Stay tuned for the next step.