WiredWest trying to fund $79M build-out that would bring fiber to 32 towns
As entrenched cable companies, as well as disruptive new entrants, work to rollout fiber-to-the-home connections, 22 Massachusetts towns are taking control of their own destinies.
WiredWest is a cooperative put together to build and operate the municipal fiber networks. The company has set a goal of 32 participating towns, according to its website.
If fully realized, WiredWest will offer three tiers of service: 25 Mbps for $49 per month; 100 Mbps for $100 per month; and 1 Gbps for $109 per month.
The company estimates the total deployment cost at $79 million with the state of Massachusetts providing 40% of the funding and the communities ponying up the difference.
For a town to be included, 40% of households must sign a “conditional commitment for service” and make a $49 deposit. Further, each town’s local government needs to hold a public vote officially committing to cover the funding gap.
Of the $79 million goal, member cities, at this point, have raised $34.5 million, according to a report in Engadget.
Last year the Federal Communications Commission took a firm stand on the side of municipalities looking to roll out proprietary broadband, despite opposition from major Internet Service Providers.
At the time, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said: “If the people, acting through their elected local governments, want to pursue competitive community broadband, they shouldn’t be stopped by state laws promoted by cable and telephone companies that don’t want the competition.”
He gave the example of Chattanooga, Tenn., where the local Electric Power Board has built-out a large, fiber-to-home network despite years of legal wrangling from Comcast, which now offers a similar service in the area.
Comcast sued local authorities claiming the fiber buildout was being subsidized by ratepayer dollars; the challenge failed in court.
Comcast, AT&T and Google Fiber are in competition for high-speed Internet customers in a number of major metro markets with no sign of the rollouts slowing.
