At its November meeting, the Infrastructure Committee heard from the sub-committee researching WiFi accessibility. There are many on Cape Cod who do not have access to internet service, as well as families with school-aged kids attending classes online while parents work from home, increasing demands on bandwidth.
The sub-committee has drafted a survey to get feedback on whether this is a significant issue. Once the survey is finalized, it will be sent to guidance counsellors at schools and individual Infrastructure Committee members will reach out to their own contacts where appropriate. While the initial focus was primarily on the student and education sector, a large number and range of responses will provide a picture of Cape-wide needs for internet connectivity. Committee members also recommended sending the survey to town managers, library directors, the Cape’s chambers of commerce, and Cape Cod Community College. The intent is to send to as wide an audience as possible.
It was reported to the Committee that the town of Falmouth is in the process of conducting a survey to deploy fiber throughout the community, both business and residential.
Advocacy Policy
A policy for responding to requests for support has been approved by the Tech Council Executive Committee and will be presented to the Board for approval.
Net Zero
Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative’s Net Zero conference in October was reported to have been a big success. This year’s conference was done virtually and reached a broader audience, with 650 registrants and 30 presentations. Videos are available at netzerocapecod.org. There are three topics covered: Jobs, Public Policy & Economic Recovery; Green Toolkits for Business Success; and Climate Activism & Social Responsibility. The Tech Council partnered in the production of the Net Zero conference.
Technology on the Cape
Last year the Tech Council had its first Earth Tech Expo at Cape Space in Hyannis. There were a number of vendors represented, including solar and heat pump vendors, MassDevelopment, and Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. Presentations were given throughout the day on solar energy and other technologies. The infrastructure committee is interested in finding out what members are involved in these technologies, and what technologies are active on the cape.
It was recommended that we invite organizations to present to future Infrastructure Committee meetings. Members would also like updates on the topics we’ve discussed in the past and where they have gone.
A resource section on our website was suggested with aggregated information that relates to tech solutions to everyday problems. Part of the Tech Council’s mission is to provide connections between people who need information and those who have it. Our members are our greatest resource