A Municipal Fiber to the Home Network for Charlemont Massacusetts
TriWire crews have announced plans to begin work on the ‘big easement’ in FSA 05 on April 19th. This utility easement runs for about a mile through the woods behind homes on Route 2 and Burrington Rd. Fiber teams will access the area largely on foot and install the strand and fiber by climbing each utility pole. Please give these hardworking crews a socially distanced word of thanks if you see them in this difficult stretch of the network construction!
Comments closedCharlemont reached a milestone this week when 40% of all locations – every rental unit, business, and home- signed up for service! This magic number means that the network is projected to cover the annual costs of operating the network. Thanks to everyone that signed up and welcome to those of you who will be signing up during this ongoing construction period!
Comments closedCharlemont’s distribution network contractor, TriWire, has announced the beginning of splicing in FSA 01! Due to shortages of these specialized crews, splicing resources have been difficult to schedule for area projects and Charlemont’s work has begun ahead of expectations. Give a socially distanced thank you to these crews for this continued good work!
Comments closedDoes your home or business have underground utilities or some combination of underground and overhead lines? Over 28% of all Charlemont locations fall into this category and well over half of these locations have not yet subscribed for service! Throughout the month of April, volunteers will be reaching out to owners and occupants of homes and businesses served with underground utilities to encourage sign-ups with Whip City Fiber, Charlemont’s selected service provider. These exterior installations must be done in the warmer months and have a multistep installation process.
Comments closedAwaiting available splice teams in Fiber Service Area 01, TriWire has been working in FSA 05 and FSA 04. Starting with the Route 2 portions of these FSAs to avoid seasonal traffic, these construction teams have been focusing on the paved areas of both FSA 05 and FSA 04.
Comments closedThe March 16th Broadband Information Session was packed with information and was recorded for those who were unable to attend the video or telephone conference. Whip City Fiber and the Charlemont Broadband Committee have prepared this summary video presentation along with a companion document of the questions submitted in advance and asked by participants in the meeting and the answers, organized by topic. A link to the original ninety-minute meeting recording is available upon request.
Comments closedTriWire crews have completed the first three construction steps in FSA 01- hanging string, attaching the fiber-optic cable, and installing an MST for each location to be served! This accelerated effort has completed the major work in the traffic calming area ahead of the resumption of the DOT construction this spring!
Comments closedWith the construction moving ahead quickly in FSA 01, volunteers are needed to help get information out to the Charlemont community. There are many opportunities to support the project! Please sign up to help if you can contact businesses and residents in the downtown area from the convenience store west to Zoar Outdoor, distribute information and encourage early sign-ups, staff a transfer station slot outdoors, bake for the construction crews and volunteers, or suggest a new idea!
Comments closedSometimes called over-the-top television (OTT), the market for internet entertainment content is changing rapidly! Broadband Committee member, Mary Ellen Banks, follows these developments in the streaming television space closely. In this installment of her occasional series on the topic, Mary Ellen looks at low or no-cost TV programming options.
Comments closedCharlemont’s municipal fiber network requires a one-time installation to connect your home or business to the world-class gigabit internet service provided by our partners Whip City Fiber (WCF). The details of the exterior installation and its costs are different for each location. Charlemont is offering up to $1,400 in installation subsidies during the limited network construction period when you sign up for a year of service. Sign up today!
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