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Bringing Broadband to

This project aims to bring high-speed fiber optic broadband to Shutesbury, MA, impacting house saleability and enhancing connectivity for ~911 households in the region. The municipal cooperative, part of the Mass. Broadband Institute's initiative, strives to provide affordable broadband services, reducing the reliance on outdated DSL and satellite options. The cooperative's efforts, supported by state funding, promise to elevate citizen stakeholders' online experience. Join this transformative endeavor to secure the community's digital future.

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Bringing Broadband to

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  1. Bringing Broadband to

  2. What is broadband? 25 Mbps 1-3 Mbps High-speed fiber optic cable (also called fiber) Mbps = megabits per second

  3. Impact on house saleability 20% Less Shutesbury, MA Franklin County Population: ~1800 Number of households: ~911 Total Land Area: 27.2 sq. miles Average house price: $243,000

  4. Impact on house saleability $200,000 - $40,000 - $80,000

  5. What’s wrong with DSL? And satellite? 1-3 Mbps

  6. Is a municipal cooperative run by volunteers appointed by the member towns (It is not some big corporation whose only goal is to make money for shareholders ) Has worked diligently since its formation in 2011 to bring affordable, high-quality broadband to everyone in our towns and our region to benefit citizen stakeholders Shutesbury is a member town and holds a seat on the board of directors and on the executive committee Is now working to leverage $40 million in state funding to finally make this fiber optic network to homes and businesses a reality

  7. Mass. Broadband Institute (MBI) The Massachusetts Broadband Institute was formed in 2008 by the Patrick administration with the mission to “connect the unconnected” Built the “middle mile” to CAI’s (Community Anchor Institutions): Schools, Town Halls, Libraries, Fire Stations, Police Stations, etc. Is now partnering with WiredWest to build a regional fiber network to connect the “last mile”

  8. Costs

  9. Financial models show that with a 40% take rate, WiredWest will be able to reimburse townsfor their share of debt. -$$ +$$

  10. Tax Impact $0

  11. Tax Impact vs. Savings Household would SAVE SATELLITE $0 per year DSL $0 per year *PLEASE NOTE TV PRICES NOT YET FINALIZED

  12. Only borrow as needed Paid by grant money and short term loans Revenue from subscription fees $$$ Year 1 (2015) Design and make ready work Year 2 (2016) Construction Year 3 (2017) Network live Year 4 (2018) Complete Year 5 (2019) Complete Year 6 (2020) Long Term Bond Starts

  13. Year 6 Tax Impact

  14. Why a cooperative? • It’s less expensive. • Regional solution offers economy of scale and shared resources and personnel • We don’t have the skills, talent, experience or time to go it alone. • We still own part of the network and maintain partial control.

  15. Warrant Article 1 To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money not to exceed $1,693,200.00 for the Town’s share of the costs of the construction, installation and start-up of a regional high-speed broadband network, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto, such project to be carried out by the Town’s Municipal Light Plant acting as a member of a cooperative of such Plants formed under Chapter 164, Section 47C of the General Laws; to determine whether this appropriation shall be raised by borrowing contingent on debt excluded override or otherwise; or to take any other action relative thereto.

  16. How to support the project • 1. SIGN UP by sending in your deposit. Minimum 40% of town’s premises must pre subscribe for WiredWest services and make a refundable $49 deposit (to be applied to first month of service) • 2. VOTE AT TOWN MEETING • A 2/3 pass vote at town meeting is needed to authorizing borrowing to fund our town’s costs.

  17. Questions

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