Reviving and updating the Westchester Pathmaster tradition started in the 1700s, the Westchester Alliance For Telecommunications and Public Access (WATPA), a not-for-profit community organization, strives to coordinate development of a county-wide community network using on-line, interactive electronic communications. WATPA is dedicated to the establishment of a readily
accessible, communication based information infrastructure in Westchester County, New York to benefit citizens, educational organizations, business and government for community and educational purposes. This is especially
important for a large community with a population of nearly a million.
WATPA has focused on several areas in its almost fifteen years of existence::
- the direction of cable/telecommunications and information policy at various levels of government, including municipalities;
- the development of an inventory of telecommunications paths in the county as part of a broader planning effort;
- protection of the civil liberties and rights to inexpensive access to public data by the people of Westchester;
- support and advice for the increasing use of telecommunications and associated technology in the schools of Westchester County;
- the application of telecommunications and associated technology in health and human services;
- the application of telecommunications and associated technology in the arts and sciences;
- the impact of telecommunications and associated technology on human health, well being and the social fabric;
- the impact of telecommunications and associated technology on the county's economy.
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WATPA's experience indicates that community networks are usually indigenous to central city metropolitan areas. Very few traditional media focus on Westchester County issues and needs; WATPA does.
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."
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