The Worthington Broadband Committee and municipal light board will present residents with at least two possible options for bringing broadband internet to the town.
In her letter to the editor Joyce Hackett writes: “Broadband is the single most powerful tool we have for making America great again. It's what rural America needs to pay our bills.”
With download speeds typically maxing out at 60 megabits per second, the Internet service offered by Spectrum is barely satisfactory for consumers and some business owners but not up to the task for those who make heavy use of the Internet to transfer large files, an increasing necessity as businesses rely more and more on digital communication.
"I think Great Barrington needs to have a more robust business community than it currently does. Great Barrington needs to become that small town that, besides great food and culture, is also a very interesting place to set up your business and that's the missing piece."
-- Tim Newman, WiredWest spokesperson who would move his business to Great Barrington if affordable high-speed communications were available
The project calls for a 40-story wind turbine that would not only take care of the town’s energy needs, but also throw off enough extra to sell to other towns and school districts. It is predicted to save the town $100,000 annually.
Ninety-three percent of Alford residents indicated they would sign up for high speed Internet, and if town voters favor the proposed broadband network, Alford will be online by 2017.
Convinced that Internet access is as essential modern living as electricity, the Alford Broadband Committee is well along the way of determining the process by which the town could build and organize a high-speed Internet infrastructure. Information meeting August 8, at 10 a.m. at Town Hall; vote on project Monday, August 10, at 7 p.m.
According to Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, Gov. Charlie Baker has released an additional $19 million for broadband expansion to rural communities in Western Massachusetts, to augment the $50 million his administration has already committed..
“This is an incredible opportunity, a watershed moment for us to move forward and be as competitive as we possibly can and stay viable as a community in a global economy.”
-- Tim Lovett, Berkshire Property Agents
“Broadband is an essential infrastructure like electricity, water and roads. We have all things to make quality of life here so great, but if you can’t do business, it’s not an option.”
-- Tim Newman, New Marlborough broadband advocate
Chris Thompson, the Technology Coordinator for SBRSD, points out that a 21st century learning environment is imperative to students being able to compete on both a national and global scale. He notes that due to the ever-present nature of digital content, access to it must be easy and seamless with student access at school equally as important as student access at home.
At an information meeting in Mill River, Mass., Wired West advocate Tim Newman pointed out that the fiber optic network would provide a high level of service that has become an essential component of modern living. Communications giants such as Verizon and the cable firms such as Time Warner have not been willing to invest in this high level of service for rural communities.
