A Municipal Fiber to the Home Network for Charlemont Massacusetts
Information about Charlemont Connect make-ready. Make-ready is work to prepare a “path” for the distribution network to run throughout the town. Most of this work is done by the utilities (National Grid and Verizon) to make space on existing utility poles. In some cases, the town may perform make-ready work by installing new underground conduit (e.g. near the town hall or on Hawk Hill Road) or new utility poles (e.g. on the west end of Tower Road) to create a cost-effective path for the distribution network.
Although Verizon’s make-ready is not officially underway, the company is working in select areas of Charlemont as time allows. Recently Verizon has approved one more of our utility pole licenses ahead of schedule! Because this pole preparation work is driving the overall timeline for the municipal fiber network, completing this make-ready ahead of schedule is the best way to speed up the delivery of service.
Comments closedNational Grid completed make-ready in Charlemont! The work now moves to Verizon to complete the remaining work to prepare the utility poles for fiber-optic cable.
Comments closedObear Construction has completed the electrical work for the Network Equipment Enclosure (NEE) in the basement of the Town Hall. Work to connect the mini-split cooling unit, support the future emergency generator, and connect to the main electrical panel have all been finished.
Comments closedMake-ready is underway at the Long Bridge crossing! National Grid is working steadily preparing the utility path for our final design for crossing the railroad tracks at a public way. This approach will save almost $12,000 annually in lease payments and the costly insurance required by the railroad for utilizing the existing utility path aerial right of way.
Comments closed“Is there any way we can speed up the buildout of Charlemont’s municipal fiber network?”
Citizens, Select Board members, state officials, and the Charlemont Broadband Committee are discussing ideas for accelerating the completion of our 1-gigabit symmetrical fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network service to meet the demands necessitated by the coronavirus response.
With National Grid on track to complete work in June, our schedule is dependent on the completion of make-ready by Verizon. Working with Verizon to reduce their make-ready timeline is the single most effective way to speed up Charlemont’s build-out. There are encouraging signs that some of this work has begun in town ahead of schedule.
Charlemont Broadband has been working hard to ensure that whenever make-ready is completed, even if significantly ahead of schedule, we are ready to go!
Comments closedMake ready work will begin on the Tower Rd. railroad crossing portion of the distribution network this summer under an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Westfield Gas & Electric (WG&E). The crossing, approved by Pan Am railroad last fall, is expected to be completed this summer.
Comments closedWorking with our partners Westfield Gas and Electric (WG&E) and delayed by pandemic response, Charlemont has published the procurement package for installing conduit in special situations where aerial utility lines do not currently exist. Bids to be opened on May 22, 2020, with a pre-bid conference on May 8. The award is expected in June. Bid package for 20-03H Charlemont MLP Underground Conduit Installation is available by request at www.wgesourcing.com.
Comments closedNational Grid continues make-ready work in Charlemont, carefully working within safety and social distancing guidelines. Give them a shout out and a wave as you see them working to prepare the way for municipal fiber.
Comments closedCharlemont is proceeding with four path preparation projects this summer to handle special situations where aerial utility lines do not currently exist.
Comments closedAs National Grid has been proceeding with make-ready throughout Charlemont, mud season has made an appearance in the hilltowns making for some difficult road conditions on the unpaved roads.
Comments closed
