On August 3 at 11 a.m., Noble Horizons will welcome former Stanford University professor, Kim Maxwell, Ph.D., and founder of the companies that invented the modern dial-up modem and the worldwide standard for DSL. Invoking the words of James Madison, “In a free society, the people must have a say in the laws that govern them,” Maxwell links the increasingly chaotic telecommunications infrastructure to the erosion of people’s role in government, especially in northwest Connecticut.

Mr. Maxwell attributes the current political instability and communication challenges to the 1996 Telecommunications Act and the government’s failure to make changes that will move Conn. into the communications future. He believes that local communities must begin restoring effective civil engagement by initiating improved communication channels, particularly broadband and fiber optic networking. 

 Mr. Maxwell formed and was the first chair of the DSL Forum, now the Broadband Forum, which builds standards for broadband transmission.   He is the President of Northwest ConneCT whose mission is to ensure a viable future for northwest CT communities by helping municipalities establish and assume ownership of the systems that provide universal connectivity, now a requirement in contemporary society.   He wrote, Residential Broadband: The Battle for the Last Mile, teaches seminars in Norfolk and holds a BA and PhD in English Literature from Stanford University.

Noble Horizons is located at 17 Cobble Road in Salisbury. Call (860) 435-9851to reserve your spot.