The initial charge of Berkshire Connect was to examine and assess the current state of affairs and to propose a strategy for enhancing the Berkshires telecommunications and information infrastructure and also to reduce the cost. The critical users subcommittee drove the technology assessment activities of the task force. Examine current telecommunications infrastructure and identify near and long term opportunities. A telecommunications market saturation and technology sophistication assessment. A demand aggregation.
Future telecommunications needs.
In March of 1998 a Steering Committee was created to move the project into a new phase. Don Dubendorf of Grinnell, Dubendorf and Smith volunteered to lead the group. At that time all options were in play. Berkshire Connect could privatize and build the infrastructure using private dollars. Berkshire Connect could partner with the private sector and utilize both public and private funds to build the infrastructure.