Pittsfield Council Approves Two New Fiber Internet Providers
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The City Council has OK'd fiber-optic networks for Gateway Fiber and Archtop Fiber, bringing more options to the city for internet.
On Tuesday, councilors approved Gateway Fiber's request to deploy an aerial network in Pittsfield and Archtop Fiber's plans to install infrastructure in the city right-of-way.
Gateway Fiber held a ribbon-cutting at the Colonial Theatre in July to mark the start of construction in Pittsfield. The fiber-optic network will offer subscription plans ranging from $65 to $150 per month, depending on speed
The company serves more than 150,000 homes and businesses in five states and operates Wide Area Networks for school districts in 23 states.
"While we are growing, we are really focused on local, community, and local partnerships. That's really key to us," Senior Vice President of Market Growth Sarah Lang said.
She explained that Gateway is using the make-ready process, in which other utilities make room to connect to existing poles.
"The benefits of aerial are that it's minimally disruptive. We aren't tearing up your lawns, your streets, your sidewalks, and there's added benefits that are make-ready payments," she explained.
"We've already invested millions of dollars in make-ready, and we're continuing to invest more, and those make-ready payments don't just go to improving the infrastructure for the electric distribution, but they also go to actually lowering rates for ratepayers here in Pittsfield."
Make-ready payments are what internet service providers pay a utility company to prepare for new attachments.
Phase one will reach about 5,000 residents and businesses, mostly in Ward 3 and Ward 4.
"And subsequently, we will continue and move north and build more," Lang explained.
She said communication is key, and cited the company's involvement in community organizations and sponsoring local events, mailings, billboards, and social media posts to inform the constituency.
"We are looking to triple in size in Massachusetts over the next three years," Lang reported. "Massachusetts is the most important part of our hard work strategy at Gateway, and it's important to note that these are well-paying, stable jobs."
Archtop Fiber's approval came with an advisement to "double down" on communications. At the last council meeting, the petition was continued after a "confusing" permitting process and complaints from residents.
Councilors asked for more information from the company and more public outreach to ensure that residents are aware of utility work.
"We are everywhere all the time, yet, somehow, just 45 or 50 minutes away from my home, we managed to misstep here," Shawn Beqaj, one of the company's founders, said.
"… We hear you loud and clear. We made that mistake. We will not do it again."
Vice President Kevin DeLouise, who oversees outside plant design and construction, reported that they have not built another foot underground since the Sept. 9 meeting, and "We have absolutely no desire to be working in your communities against your wishes or through some technicality that we can when there are still such concerns."
Representatives reported the use of mailings and door hangers on streets where work will be. DeLouise vowed that they will mail directly to nearby residents before starting construction on another street.
Beqaj said it was a misstep on their part, and they were there to make amends. It was attributed to a "spiral" of permitting challenges with local utilities a couple of years ago, delaying the project's status.
"From now on, if you judge us by our communication level, we as a group tend to over-communicate," he said about Archtop Fiber, explaining that they are a local team of friends who came up with the idea in Chatham, N.Y., "probably drinking some wine from Guido's while we were thinking through this."
Archtop is permitted for phase one of its construction plan, which is anchored to Berkshire Medical Center and will expand to the west side of the city. The company plans to deploy a fiber network throughout the rest of the city with a phased approach and will need additional permitting.
"We're about a third of the way through that $300 million project, and the Berkshires are our next area of focus," Beqaj explained.
Some councilors were satisfied with the company's second presentation, though some found issues with the quality of maps provided and Archtop's Pittsfield expansion not appearing on the website. City Clerk Michele Benjamin reported that her office was inundated with calls for a competitor, but haven't heard from any streets on this plan.
DeLouise maintained that 600 mailers were sent out.
Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales said the permitting process happened the way it was intended, and "it is the responsibility of the contractor to be aware of the law as well and present this for authorization. "
He recognized that there are gray areas the city is working through.
Councilors noted that competition in this area is a good thing, as well as improved connectivity.
"That was exactly what I needed to hear," Ward 2 Councilor Brittany Noto said, reminding councilors that Archtop will need to be OK'd for any additional permits.
Ward 4 Councilor James Conant encouraged them to reexamine communication plans and double down.
"When the phone's ringing the way they ran the last time, that means something's amiss. It's up to you to straighten it out, just making sure you understand that," he said, suggesting a community meeting to inform residents.
"… I just think you just need to double down."
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