Charlemont Connect – Page 16 – A Municipal Fiber to the Home Network for Charlemont Massacusetts

2020.05.09 Select Board Update

2020.05.09 Select Board Update

Published May 17, 2020

Charlemont Municipal Fiber Network, Selectboard Status Report, May 9, 2020

Summary

Make-ready is in progress with National Grid. We selected the contractor for construction of our distribution network and received the next grant milestone payment of $185,500 from EOHED.

Verizon extended their estimated make-ready completion date for the town and we are now anticipating starting construction of the distribution network in April, 2021. We plan to complete four “path preparation” projects this summer. Three underground conduit projects are out to bid (Hawk Hill Road, Heath Stage Terrace, Warner Hill Road). We believe we finally have a resolution for the railroad crossing near Long Bridge via a public-way crossing at Route 8A. This will incur additional make-ready costs, but we believe they will be reimbursed by the state. Construction of the network equipment room in the basement of the town hall has resumed. So far, the project remains on budget and we are planning for town borrowing in FY21.

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WiFi High-Speed Hotspot Live!

"Free as in Wifi" by cogdogblog is licensed under CC BY 2.0

WiFi High-Speed Hotspot Live!

Published May 11, 2020

Charlemont’s free high-speed wireless hotspot has been activated and is ready for public use! The coverage area is on the north side of the Hawlemont school building. You can connect to the networks WhipCityFiber_Wifi and WhipCityFiber_Wifi-5G. Neither network requires a password.

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Path Preparation Procurement Public!

Path Preparation Procurement Public!

Published May 2, 2020

Working 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.

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High-Speed Internet Hotspot Coming to Charlemont

Published April 29, 2020

The Charlemont Broadband Committee and local residents have asked the Select Board to request our free high-speed public access wifi ‘hotspot’ for use during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Select Board has asked that the Hawlemont School be considered as the Charlemont location.

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Charlemont Receives Next Traunch of EOHED Funding

Charlemont Receives Next Traunch of EOHED Funding

Published April 19, 2020

Charlemont has received $185,500 from the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) as the next traunch of our state broadband allocation. This grant money was awarded as a result of Charlemont completing the milestone of contracting for the construction of the broadband network.

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TriWire Selected As Distribution Network Construction Firm

TriWire Selected As Distribution Network Construction Firm

Published April 13, 2020

TriWire has been selected to build Charlemont’s municipal fiber distribution network. As the lowest qualified bidder, the team at TriWire will begin construction on the town’s fiber-optic backbone as soon as our Make-Ready work is complete. The construction bid is very close to our initial estimates as the project continues to come in on budget.

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Make-ready Continues Through COVID-19

Make-ready Continues Through COVID-19

Published April 2, 2020

National 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.

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Path Preparation Projects Proceed

Path Preparation Projects Proceed

Published March 22, 2020

Charlemont is proceeding with four path preparation projects this summer to handle special situations where aerial utility lines do not currently exist.

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2020.03.14 Select Board Update

2020.03.14 Select Board Update

Published March 16, 2020

Charlemont Municipal Fiber Network, Selectboard Status Report, March 14, 2020

Summary

Make-ready is in progress and we have put our distribution network construction contract out to bid through WG+E. Bids are due back on March 27. Based on estimated completion dates from the utilities, we are anticipating network construction to begin in early 2021. We hope to begin rolling out service to parts of town in the second quarter of 2021 and have service in all parts of town by the end of 2021 or Q1 2022. This summer, we plan to complete four “path preparation” construction projects on Hawk Hill Road, Heath Stage Terrace, Tower Road and Warner Hill Road. Construction of the network equipment room in the basement of the town hall is underway. We finalized an agreement with Heath to serve two homes on Center Heath Road. We are still working on a final design for the Long Bridge railroad crossing. So far, with the state covering our make-ready overages, the project remains on budget.

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Distribution Network Procurement Package Available

Distribution Network Procurement Package Available

Published March 4, 2020

Working with our partners Westfield Gas and Electric (WG&E), Charlemont has begun the procurement process for our fiber optic distribution network! We anticipate construction contractor bids to be opened at the end of March and the award is expected at the end of April. Information is available in the COMMBUYS procurement announcement.

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Charlemont Connect Posts

Summary

Summary