Westchester Alliance for Telecommunications and Public Access
Mission Statement


Background

Early in 1993, more than a dozen people from across Westchester County sat down for the first meeting of the Advisory Council on Technology and Public Access in the offices of County Clerk Andrew Spano. We came from various backgrounds -- education, law, architecture, medicine, government, the computer industry, among other walks of life.

We all realized that the revolution in information, computers and communications would have a dramatic impact on the county and our way of life. We also realized that no group of citizens was looking into what those impacts would be and how we might control them. We took this task upon ourselves.

In 1994, the decision was made to transform this council into a not-for-profit citizenship association, the Westchester Alliance For Telecommunications and Public Access (WATPA).

WATPA intends to distinguish itself by being an organization of citizens from across Westchester County and thus speaks from the perspective of the public at large -- not any particular business or other interests. In a world in which knowledge about these issues is both fast changing and difficult to locate, WATPA is also a central source of expertise. Reflecting the first two features of WATPA, it will work to provide the people of Westchester County with objective advice and knowledge -- unaffected by any financial interest in the resulting decisions.


Purposes

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;
  2. find ways of accelerating the growth of inter-connected networks within the county;
  3. assure the general public's access to those networks, no matter where they live or their social or economic circumstances;
  4. help educate the public about the coming information age;
  5. be a resource for public and private agencies, officials and members of the news media who want to understand how the people of Westchester County can benefit from and direct the information revolution;
  6. maintain liaison and work with organizations outside of the county who are also concerned about these issues.

Special Concerns

WATPA will operate through a series of "action-oriented" committees, each of which is devoted to realistic accomplishments in special areas of concern. These include:

  1. the direction of cable/telecommunications and information policy at various levels of government, including municipalities;
  2. the development of an inventory of telecommunications paths in the county as part of a broader planning effort;
  3. protection of the civil liberties and rights to inexpensive access to public data by the people of Westchester;
  4. support and advice for the increasing use of telecommunications and associated technology in the schools of Westchester County;
  5. the application of telecommunications and associated technology in health and human services;
  6. the application of telecommunications and associated technology in the arts and sciences;
  7. the impact of telecommunications and associated technology on human health, well being and the social fabric;
  8. the impact of telecommunications and associated technology on the economy of the county.

Membership

WATPA welcomes as members anyone who lives, works or is otherwise concerned with the future of Westchester County. In a phrase from one of our sister organizations, all you need is the desire "to help make our corner of the digital world a civilized and flourishing place to live, work and visit." WATPA is funded by minimal fees for membership, in addition to grants and donations.

To keep members aware of its activities, WATPA meets regularly, sends out information via the U.S. mail, maintains an Internet Discussion Group [To join the list, send a message to: majordomo@westnet.com with the words subscribe watpa in the body of the message], a World Wide Web Homepage (http://www.westnet.com/watpa) and a free, open-access electronic bulletin board system 914-737-0460.

WATPA's address:

Westchester Alliance for Telecommunications & Public Access
Westchester Library System
8 Westchester Plaza
Elmsford NY 10523
914 592-8214

WATPA's secretary, Bill Langham, may be reached at 914 967-0341.

Last update 01-05-1996