(East Stroudsburg, PA) – February 7, 2017 – Accelerate Pennsylvania, growing coalition of innovation and implementation companies, including Dellicker Strategies, Business Information Group (BIG) and Lewis Strategic of the Monroe $1000 Gigabit Project announced details of the upcoming 0800 February 13^thmeeting.

The alarming results from the project’s Broadband pricing survey will be announced and well as next steps for the pending Broadband RFP. As a direct result, organizers are anticipating another very large crowd for the Monroe $1,000 Gigabit Project meeting at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, February 13, 2017 at the East Stroudsburg University’s Innovation Center, a state-of-the-art incubator and company-accelerator located on Interstate 80.

The public is welcome and encouraged to attend with advance registration by visiting https://quantum.esu.edu/machform/view.php?id=168240.

Last December, more than 120 guests from leading organizations in Monroe County assembled at the kickoff rally for more affordable Gigabit internet technology. The Broadband Rally was hosted by the Monroe 2030 Action Team, Pocono Mountains Economic Development Corporation, and East Stroudsburg University. Industry speakers included Dellicker Strategies, Business Information Group, York Exponential and Lewis Strategic. More than 75 guests attended the January 2017 meeting.

The Monroe $1,000 Gigabit Project is designed to host three (3) additional monthly meetings on March 13, April 13 and May 12, 2017.  The entire project is designed to strategically push Monroe County towards Gigabit City status. Gigabit City status enables buyers to purchase one Gigabit internet connections for $1,000 or less, annually. Already 120 U.S. cities have achieved Gigabit City status and Monroe County hopes to be among the first regions in the tristate area to deliver $1,000 Gbps – Gigabit.

Presently, only one organization in Monroe County appears to pay $1,000 for Gigabit internet. 8 of the largest 14 organizations in Monroe County appear to pay much more.

A detailed update will be provided by Monroe $1,000 Gigabit Project team:

•  Kelly Lewis, Lewis Strategic (recently led Pennsylvania Gigabit Revolution with 265 participating organizations, and Philadelphia Acceleration Summit)
  • The Monroe County $1,000 Gigabit Project Update, Action Plan & Next Steps                                                                                                      
• John Dolmetsch, CIO, Business Information Group (BIG) (One of Comcast’s leading Gigabit vendors)
  • The Engineering Work for the Monroe $1,000 Gigabit Project

Greetings and introductions will be provided by:

• Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., President, East Stroudsburg University
• Mary Francis Postupack, Vice President, Economic Development and Entrepreneurship, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
• Chuck Leonard, Executive Director, Pocono Mountains Economic Development Corporation

The public is encouraged to attend with advance registration by visiting https://quantum.esu.edu/machform/view.php?id=168240. A continental breakfast will be served. For general information, call Stacey Grant at 570-422-7920.

TV, video and radio contacts: Elizabeth Richardson, ESU, at 570-422-3139, and/or Rebecca Kann at 717-975-7430.

Organizations interested in $1,000 Gigabit are being asked to complete a brief survey by visiting https://goo.gl/forms/4LQakQXtOnvrU2yz1 in order to become a participant.

For additional information on how to participate and keep posted on future meetings and events, visit our website, PaAccelerationProject.com, follow Accelerate Pennsylvania on Twitter @AcceleratePenna and on Facebook @AcceleratePA.

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