WATPALS:
Following is a brief sketch of a proposed Education
Forum. This working draft is open to suggestion,
criticism, participant nominations for any of the
suggested forums, volunteers, help, etc.
I look forward to your comments, now or at Thurday's
regular meeting.
Bill Langham
Program Director
WATPA Education Forum
A series of public meetings concerned with fulfilling
WATPA's Mission pertaining to Educating the community
about Local Information Infrastructure:
WATPA is dedicated to serving the community at
large, educational organizations, business and
government for the following educational and
community purposes:
(1) to provide a forum for the discussion of
policy issues relating to public,
business, government and educational
access to emerging new telecommunications
and information "highways", technology
and services in Westchester;
WATPA will organize and present a series of programs
describing small business applications of
telecommunications technology, public advocacy for
appropriate implementation of local telecommunications
technology (and policy), and matters thought to be of
general interest to the community regarding use and
access to networked telecommunications technology.
Programs in the following areas are contemplated:
1) Business
For business owners: Should I be on the World Wide
Web?
Benefits:
Drawbacks:
Selecting an Internet Services provider
How to design, set-up and manage a website
What can I expect from my web presence? What costs are
associated with developing, maintaining, operating, staff
training, customer response/fulfillment, etc.?
[Paustian/NetSurf Technologies, Candreva/Westnet, Inc.,
Others with success (or otherwise) stories about their
experience]
2) General Interest
What effect will the Telecommunications Act of 1996
have on me? Can I expect change(s)...in quality of
service or programs, economic value, access?
On my:
Local Cable Television Operator
Emilie Spalding/CableVision,
Local Telephone Service Provider
NYNEX Public Relations Dept
Local Internet Access Service Provider
Westnet, Inc., other local ISP (AT&T?)
Commercial Online Service Providers
AOL, Prodigy, other representatives
Local Library
Mitch Freedman, WLS
3) Status Report on Telecommunications and Westchester
Schools/ Colleges.
Public Schools -
Representatives from committed districts
Representative from uncommitted/unconvinced
district
Representative BOCES Regional Information
Center
Colleges and other Academic Institutions
Pace University
Mercy College
Westchester Community College
Representative Adult Education Program (if
any)
Empire State College/Distance Learning
Programs