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In 2010, the town created a Broadband Committee to address the potential for providing fast internet service to Petersham residents. Low population density  in Western Mass towns has long been an obstacle  to companies that have installed cable and fiber optic systems in more densely populated communities. Simply put, there aren't enough customers "out here" to cover the cost of installation or to make an operating profit.

In many of our communities and Petersham is one of them, Digital Subscriber Line service (DSL) was the answer. But DSL is limited in speed and in distance from the switching stations that connect to the outside world. So homeowners close to the center of town must make do with a technology that is no longer state of the art. Farther away from the town center, satellite and very slow dialup services.  Questions and Answers are Below

The main service provider, Verizon, has moved on to newer technology, fiber optic cabling, apparently without making any provision to provide that newer service to towns without a lot of people in them. Verizon's support for DSL lines is waning. In Petersham, new DSL connections are no longer being offered.
Verizon’s CEO Lowell McAdams has publicly stated that “We intend to end wired telephone and DSL Internet service in rural areas.”

A Broadband Informational Meeting will be held in the lower Town Hall at 2 p.m. on Saturday  November 19th.

For its part, the Commonwealth has set aside $50 million to help towns find and implement solutions and deliver faster internet services. But those dollars are tangled in a web of  political confusion about which solution, which technology and which approaches are best. Some 41 communities further west have come together as Wired West to bring political pressure and  find a solution. Leverett has simply gone ahead, borrowed money and installed its own system

Petersham has created a Municipal Light Plant to operate its broadband service and plans to work with a company called Matrix Design to get the job done. Total shared cost is expected to be $2.1 million and a special town meeting will be asked on Dec. 12 to borrow $560,000 for the town's share.

State law allows municipalities to own, maintain and operate a municipal light plant (“MLP”) in order to provide electric and/or gas services to its citizens. Internet service is now included.  Forty-one communities have established MLPs that serve all or part of 50 municipalities for electric service.  Generally, MLPs are run by municipal light boards or commissions in a municipality, or by the mayor/board of selectmen.  The Department’s role in regulating MLPs is limited as MLPs’ rates are set by municipal officials.  The MLP provides both distribution and supply service to its customers.

Below is information provided to petershamcommon.com by the local broadband committee to inform voters in advance of the town meeting.

Petersham Broadband Q & A

For answers to any additional questions, please contact any Petersham Broadband member: Chip Bull, John Blum, Andre Pierre, Greg Grandbois, Thomas Gurganus, Shawn Legare


What is the “MLP”?
Town of Petersham Municipal Light Plant

Who is the MLP Board?
Five members to be appointed by Selectboard

Will all residents be able to connect?
Yes - 100% will have the option to subscribe

How fast will the new fiber-optic Broadband be?
Up to 50Mbs upload and 50Mbs download

How does this speed compare to DSL?
Average DSL in Town speed is 2.5Mbs / .65Mbs

Who will own & operate the network?
Matrix Design - The company built the town of Leverett network

How long has Matrix been in business?
More than 20 years

Has Matrix installed fiber before?
Yes - thousands of miles

Has Petersham checked Matrix's financials?
Yes -Town auditor has issued a positive report

How much will Matrix invest in Petersham?
$1,750,000

How much is Petersham being asked to invest?
The cost of preparing the utility poles - $560,000

What will this money be used for?
Pole Survey & Pole Make-Ready Work & legal

Who controls how this money is spent?
Petersham MLP & Treasurer

What is Petersham’s ongoing responsibility?
Pole rentals-collected by Matrix

How long has Petersham been working on this?
More than six years

When would work begin?
Projected start date - Jan 1, 2017

When would the network be completed?
Estimated December 2018

When will customers get connected?
Estimated summer of 2017

What is my one-time connection fee?
$500 payable over 3 months - equipment and labor

What is connection fee if I sign up later?
$1,500 (Leverett’s fee is $2,400)

Where does my fee go?
Held in escrow by the Town of Petersham until service begins
connect
Why Should I Care about High-speed Internet Service? Q & A

My DSL is good enough for me, why should I care?

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 young families. Internet access is a modern utility and lack of Broadband is a serious hardship, similar to the lack of electricity or telephone of 100 years ago. Your support for Broadband helps your neighbors whose Internet connection is much slower than yours. It supports the future vitality of the Town as a whole. We think when the fiber-optic connection becomes available, you will want it as well. Signing up now saves you $1000.00 in installations costs.

FACTS TO THINK ABOUT:

Verizon DSL service in Petersham is deteriorating rapidly

Verizon is no longer installing any new DSL Internet connections in Petersham

Homes with fiber-optic Internet connections are generally $8000.00 more valuable

If you sell your house and terminate your DSL connection the buyer of your house will never be able to reactivate the service

DSL repairs depend on using scavenged circuit-boards left over from Verizon’s urban fiber-optic FIOS builds

Verizon’s CEO Lowell McAdams has publicly stated that “We intend to end wired telephone and DSL Internet service in rural areas.”



What is my minimum commitment period?
24 months service period

Can I pass on my connection to any new owner?
Yes – They just need to change the billing information

Who controls future price increases?
Petersham MLP & Matrix – Limited to CPI Index

Who settles customer disputes?
Petersham MLP Customer Service Rep & Matrix

Who pays for network storm repairs?
Matrix Design

Who pays for equipment upgrades?
Matrix Design

Who do I call if my Internet goes down?
Matrix

Who do I call with a service/billing question?
Matrix

Where does my monthly bill originate?
Matrix