Lenox should become independent wired community

If we, as a community, are going to attract future businesses to our community and possibly other communities in central Berkshire, we need to move forward with a planned fiber optic network.

Verizon Communications has indicated it is not going to support copper or DSL going forward in rural areas. Where possible, Verizon is going to hook people up to their Fios switches. Verizon sold off it lines in Vermont and Maine two years ago.

Lenox can become the leader in  communication link noting it connects with senior citizens as well as youths, who are  in need of employment which will be able to connect to the world from home.

If the costs become outrageous, we can add Lee and Stockbridge under the Tri-town banner to help underwrite the costs.

Just those two towns, with Country Curtains in Lee and The Red Lion Inn along with the Marian Fathers in Stockbridge, are examples of the type of businesses that will help offset the residential costs going forward.

Lenox has a non-profit base which would no doubt sign up for fiber along with the business community of downtown, Lenox Commons and the strip north.

Fiber is the key to our future in terms of employment, tourist attraction, homebuyers and giving our non-profits an added value going forward.

The town manager/selectmen should call for a blue ribbon committee to seek an updated analysis of equipment costs, installation and desire by the community-at-large. Also, the committee should be charged with seeking telecommunication grants to help set up a model program.

Herein is some information from Fiber for All: http://fiberforall.org/brigham-net-review/.

A report from Brigham, Utah: The  residents of Brigham, Utah, have access to one of the nation’s fastest fiber optic broadband services including  digital video and  telephone services. 

Not bad for a town of under 20,000 that got its first ISP in the mid-1990s.  There are a few downsides to this provider. 

Brigham.net offers four tiers of symmetrical fiber optic broadband services, starting at 10 Mbps, then jumping to 20 Mbps, 30 Mbps, and finally to a stunning 50 Mbps. 

Cost: The 10 Mbps plan will cost $34.50 with a two year contract, while a 20 Mbps plan costs 49.50 per month. 30 Mbps plans cost $59.50 and the 50 Mbps plans cost $74.50 per month, which is actually a great bargain for the amazing broadband speed one gets.

Note: An T1 line costs more than $250 per month.

Whatever the goals are of the Lenox Selectmen, this is a good time to form an Information technology (IT) committee to explore where we are today and what alternatives we can select going forward. This report should be ready for the town meeting.

Years ago, communities were set up on the banks of rivers to help drive the mechanical end of industry. Then it was electrical generation plants, which allowed communities to expand off the river. Now we are headed toward fiber which does not require as much maintenance as copper wire. Following Verizon’s lead, there may be chances of pushing fiber to a common place (pot) and then wireless to the individual place.

Where does this leave Time Warner (TW)? The good news, this offers a municipal type operation that could be a model for other communities to keep rates of landline phone companies and cable companies in check. The bad news: TW price is not headed down.

And assuming the rates are reasonable on build out, this could be an enterprising fund and thus become income generated on upgrades, which might offer some relief to the taxpayer(?). Also, as the host community, Lenox could offer a value added amount to the other communities.

Beyond, this, it could offer information at a greater speed at reduce price.

And this is not a bad thing.

Posted by George C. Jordan III on February 14, 2013. Filed under Opinion,View from the Tower. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry