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Holyoke Fiber Optic is a new group that wants to discuss ways to increase access to fiber optic cable capacity, depicted above, in Holyoke.

(IMAGE FROM FACEBOOK)

HOLYOKE -- The next meeting of the Holyoke Fiber Optic Group Jan. 4 will include discussion about scheduling a session with Manager James M. Lavelle of the Holyoke Gas and Electric Department, an organizer said.

"The Holyoke Fiber Optic group feels the city is ready to start exploring this issue and we hope to meet with Jim Lavelle sometime in January to discuss forming an exploratory committee," organizer Peter Palombella said in an email Wednesday.

The group was formed in November to build support for deployment of fiber optic connections to every home and business here to allow for high-speed internet access. Its first meeting was Dec. 7.

The next meeting will be 6 to 8 p.m. in the third-floor meeting room at the Holyoke Public Library, 250 Chestnut St., Palombella said.

Lavelle, who couldn't be reached for comment, has agreed to meet with members of the group, Palombella said.

Fiber optics, which is in place here to an extent as part of the Holyoke Gas and Electric Department's (HGE) system, is a technology that uses a bundle of glass or plastic threads to transmit data. The bandwidth, which is a term describing information capacity, of fiber optics is much greater than that of metal cables and that increases internet connection speeds. The main drawback is the mutli-million-dollar infrastructure costs.

Palombella established a Facebook page about the fiber optic effort in November. The catalyst has been frustration at the lack of the spread here of access to fiber optics despite the need to capitalize on such infrastructure being noted in the city's April 1999 master plan, he said.

The first meeting lasted about two hours and 10 people attended, he said.

"We talked about about a wide range of concepts surrounding municipal broadband, but most importantly, we came to a consensus about pursuing a fiber optic exploratory committee. Not a full broadband committee with the power of a city agency, but a committee to explore the issue, in stages, with members from different stakeholder groups in the city," Palombella said.

Such a committee could include representatives from the HGE, the office of Mayor Alex B. Morse, City Council and the city Planning and Economic Development and School departments, he said.

Palombella said that posting on the Facebook page is the best way to communicate with him about the Holyoke Fiber Optic effort.