TURNERS FALLS — It’s been five years since the beginning of a long process to get internet access to rural parts of Montague and other western Massachusetts towns.
But the fight for internet access is nearing its end in town. Broadband Committee Chairman Kevin Hart announced this week that only 32 homes would be without internet access once the current build-out is complete.
Hart said that the committee received new maps with even more neighborhoods than they expected. Comcast was only required to increase service to 96 percent of the town, but they are covering about 99 percent.
Hart said Comcast has estimated that the build-out will be finished within the calendar year and that Comcast has stuck to all other deadlines on the project. Comcast also estimated the “make ready” process, where existing telephone polls are adjusted by current utility companies to prepare for additional wires, would be about six months. After that, Comcast would begin its build-out to the unserved areas.
Town Administrator Steve Ellis said that while he is new to the town government and the issue, it’s been clear that the committee has worked tirelessly on this project.
“My sense is that Montague has been in really good hands,” Ellis said.
The Massachusetts Broadband Institute, a state government-funded agency financing the rural build-out, chose Comcast for the project against strong objections by the town’s Broadband Committee and the rural residents without internet, who wanted the job awarded to Matrix, another internet provider. MBI had concerns about Matrix as a provider.
The dispute between MBI and the town’s Broadband Committee went all the way to the state’s Department of Telecommunications, which sided with MBI, so the town was left with choosing Comcast for the job or not receiving the state money. The town opted for Comcast.
Cable committee members said Comcast service puts the unserved areas on par with the rest of the town.
“We’re lucky that Comcast upped its delivery,” committee member Rob Steinberg said. “For a second choice, it’s very good.”
Hart said there are still several concerns, the first being that they need to make sure the build-out is completed as promised.
The committee is also working on solutions for residents who are more than 300 feet back on the property. Comcast has said they only build out 300 feet. The rest would possibly have to be financed by the home owner, but there is some funding available through the state and Comcast. Those with questions about their property should contact the committee.
Beyond that, the next step will be finding a solution for the 32 unserved residences. Hart said the committee will be evaluating next steps once the initial build-out is complete.
“This doesn’t end here tonight,” Hart said. “We’re going to look at our options to solve as many problems as we can.”