WiredWest is a cooperative of municipal light plants (MLPs). Its members are the MLPs of unserved western Massachusetts towns, which are authorized by special legislation to finance the construction of telecommunications networks and offer services. WiredWest is governed by representatives from the member towns. In essence, WiredWest is a public utility owned and operated by you! [...]
MBI was established in 2008 when the MA Legislature passed emergency funding to address the lack of critical broadband service in 44 unserved towns. MBI built the “MB123” middle-mile network with state and federal funds. It provides backhaul connection points for last-mile networks and direct fiber-optic connections to Community Anchor Institutions in 123 municipalities, but no last [...]
Initially, there was a close relationship. WiredWest lobbied for and got the Legislature to approve the Last Mile effort that now funds MBI. At first, the two organizations worked together and planned a regional network that MBI would build and WiredWest would own and operate on behalf of the member towns. MBI later rejected WiredWest's [...]
Building a high-speed, high-capacity, affordable network will have numerous important positive effects for our region. Conversely, doing nothing will stifle future prospects for our communities. High-speed internet access is necessary for much of our day-to-day lives. It impacts regional commerce, education, health and public safety, cultural enrichment, government operations, and aids in countless conveniences and [...]
Our existing internet infrastructure is obsolete and expensive. The dramatic increase in internet traffic – particularly bandwidth-heavy multimedia applications – exceeds the speed limits of DSL and the capacity limits of satellite and cellular systems. Verizon plans to phase out DSL in favor of more expensive cellular. The substandard nature of the internet infrastructure in [...]
Many of your fellow residents have no effective and affordable internet option. Satellite and cellular internet services are very expensive and have major technical limitations. Without adequate internet access, your neighbors and the town as a whole suffer: home values and economic development are depressed, educational opportunities are limited and the town is unattractive to [...]
DSL is a last-generation technology that is already inadequate, and would hobble the future economic development of our region. Verizon has expressed no interest in expanding their wired services anywhere, is discontinuing DSL in other markets, and is focused instead on wireless cellular business.
No. The private sector has left us behind because we are not sufficiently profitable. Meanwhile, internet access has become essential “infrastructure” just like roads, public water, or schools. Municipal infrastructure projects do not have to make a short-term profit for private investors, but are intended, instead, for the long-term public good. Private companies should not [...]
Some homes in our towns with no broadband access have simply not sold recently, suggesting that the lack of broadband significantly depresses property value. On the other hand, a recent study found that adding fiber optic service to a home increased the property value of a $300,000 home by an average of $5,250.