GREENFIELD — The town-owned entity that’s in the process of bringing low-cost voice, data and internet services to Greenfield, will begin accepting customers Dec. 1.
According to Greenfield Community Energy & Technology General Manager Daniel Kelley, the service has purchased $7.4 million of networking and WiFi equipment and is in the process of building its technology hub in Town Hall, from which all services will be delivered. Due to a three-month backlog of fiber-optic cable, the construction schedule for a town-wide buildout has been pushed to April. GCET will use the winter months to do pre-fiber construction in preparation for the installation launch, which will continue through June.
The service now has four employees in its technology, accounting and finance, and business management departments, and is continuing to recruit staff. It is expected to create 16 to 22 jobs once fully staffed. Last month, it set up its headquarters on the second floor of 324 Main St.
GCET is supported by revenue it earns from the sale of its services to customers, not by taxes or donations, according to Kelley. Home service is expected to cost $29.95 per month, while mobile, per-device plans are expected to cost $9.95 per month for wireless access anywhere in town.
“Our prices for voice, data and internet access are set at cost and, as a nonprofit public utility, these prices will decrease as customer adoption grows,” Kelley wrote in a blog update.
The GreenLight pilot project, which has been providing free wireless internet on Main Street, from Elm Street to High Street and up High Street to the police station since last October is scheduled to end Dec. 1. Once the service begins accepting new customers, they will be offered 30 days of free internet access for home, business or mobile service.
You can reach Aviva Luttrell at: aluttrell@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 268
On Twitter: @AvivaLuttrell