MONTAGUE — Rather than lose state money for its last-mile broadband buildout, Montague town officials have accepted Comcast as the state-selected vendor to complete expansion of the town’s last-mile broadband buildout.
But not all residents are happy with the choice.
Comcast is now in negotiations with the Massachusetts Broadband Institute to expand its cable network through partially served towns where it already provides Internet service.
The Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI), which is to oversee last-mile broadband, received applications from the Matrix Design Group and Comcast to provide broadband extension services for both Montague and Hardwick. But MBI dropped Matrix as a possible choice, saying, in May, that Matrix might not have the financial resources to sustain such a network and that its two-year buildout with Leverett was not in accordance with contract requirements. Members of Montague and Hardwick’s broadband committees disagreed, saying, at a May meeting, they believe MBI is trying to force a Comcast solution on them.
Montague and Hardwick were given a choice to either accept Comcast or forfeit any share of the $5 million in state broadband money set aside for several underserved towns with partial cable service.
The towns were asked to notify MBI by Wednesday if they opted to pick another vendor and lose state funding. The date passed without Montague notifying MBI of any vendor change.
“It was either default to Comcast or you could reject Comcast and get nothing,” said Montague Broadband Committee member Rob Steinberg.
He said that a Comcast representative attended Monday night’s selectmen’s meeting to give a presentation. He said Comcast plans to expand cable out to 96 percent of the town; but that leaves at least 100 households without broadband access.
“A hundred homes — you’re talking millions in housing values just disappearing,” said Steinberg.
With Matrix, he said, “We were after (wiring) greater than 98 percent of the homes, with hybrid solutions to reach 100 percent.”
Steinberg expressed concern over whether Comcast can achieve its 96 percent goal because it doesn’t put up utility poles or extend cable over railroad crossings — two things that might be needed to reach some of the homes, he said.
“Our vision was to provide state-of-the-art broadband for the entire town,” Steinberg said. “We haven’t given up.”
Both Montague and Hardwick wanted Matrix for their broadband provider, and this past week, state Rep. Anne M. Gobi, D-Spencer, who represents Hardwick, filed an amendment to the Economic Development bill that would have allowed towns waiting for broadband to get their state broadband funding even if they selected another vendor than the one chosen by MBI. In return, MBI would not be held responsible for the towns going with an alternate vendor. However, the amendment was defeated Thursday, according to her chief of staff, Brian Ferrarese.