Is Longmeadow Finally Ready for Private Fiber?

 

After nearly three years of discussions, delays and disagreements over bringing a privately financed fiber-optic network to Longmeadow, the situation may finally be changing.

Gateway Fiber is expected to appear before the Longmeadow Select Board on Monday, October 19, to present its plans for moving forward with construction of a private high-speed fiber network in town. 

The meeting could answer a question that has been hanging over the project for several years:

What, if anything, is now standing in the way of Gateway Fiber beginning construction in Longmeadow?

A Significant Statement from the Select Board Chair Dan Zwirko

An October 2 Springfield Republican article about renewed discussion of a town-owned fiber network contained an important statement from Select Board Chair Dan Zwirko concerning private fiber providers.

According to the Republican, Zwirko said the decision about establishing a Municipal Light Board has no effect on the ability of private companies to begin installing fiber and offering Internet service in Longmeadow.

“Longmeadow is open for business. It’s not up for us to decide for a private company.”

The Republican further reported that a private fiber provider would negotiate directly with Eversource and Verizon for access to their existing utility poles, with the town becoming involved where specific construction requires municipal action, such as poles that need to be moved or replaced.

That is an important clarification.

Gateway's efforts to build in Longmeadow have previously been complicated by disagreements concerning what municipal hearings and approvals were necessary before construction could proceed.

If Chair Zwirko's statement now represents the town's position, Gateway should be able to move ahead with the aerial portions of its privately financed network by working directly with Eversource and Verizon for attachments to their existing utility poles. Municipal hearings or approvals would still be necessary for particular construction where required by Massachusetts law, such as certain new or relocated poles, underground pathways or other work affecting the public way.

Gateway Says It Is Ready to Move Forward

Gateway Fiber has been pursuing a Longmeadow network for at least four years and has already undertaken substantial engineering, design, pole-attachment and other preparatory work.

Gateway representatives have indicated that their preparations have advanced sufficiently that, assuming remaining utility and construction work proceeds as anticipated, the first Longmeadow customers could potentially be connected in early 2027.

That makes the October 19 meeting much more than another general discussion about whether Longmeadow should someday have fiber.

The important question now is whether Gateway is ready to move from planning to actual construction — and whether the town is prepared to facilitate that process.

What Could Gateway Fiber Cost?

Gateway has not yet announced pricing specifically for Longmeadow. However, its current prices in nearby Northampton give residents a useful idea of what Gateway is charging in another Western Massachusetts community.

Gateway currently advertises these Northampton residential plans:

600 Mbps — $65/month
1 Gig — $75/month
2 Gig — $90/month
5 Gig — $125/month

These are fiber connections offering symmetrical service — meaning upload and download speeds are the same.

All four plans currently include a modem and one Wi-Fi router. Gateway provides Wi-Fi 6 equipment with its 600 Mbps and 1 Gig plans and Wi-Fi 7 with its 2 Gig and 5 Gig plans.

For many households, the 1 Gig symmetrical plan at $75 per month may be particularly interesting. It provides considerably more upload capacity than traditional cable Internet and should easily accommodate multiple people simultaneously streaming, working from home, gaming and using connected devices.

Longmeadow pricing has not been announced, however, and residents should not assume that Northampton's rates will automatically apply here.

That raises another good question for October 19:

If Gateway builds in Longmeadow, will Longmeadow residents receive pricing comparable to what Gateway currently offers in Northampton?

Gateway Is Already Building a Massachusetts Presence

Gateway Fiber isn't proposing its first Massachusetts fiber network in Longmeadow. The company has been steadily expanding its presence in the Commonwealth.

Northampton became Gateway's first Massachusetts market, with its first residential customers connected in December 2024.

Gateway subsequently expanded into Gardner and Pittsfield. Its Pittsfield fiber service officially launched in July 2025.

Most recently, Gateway announced another significant Massachusetts expansion. In September 2026, the company announced that construction was underway in Falmouth on Cape Cod, with plans for additional expansion in the Barnstable and Yarmouth areas.

Gateway says it now has local teams supporting its growing operations across Western and Central Massachusetts.

That experience is important for Longmeadow.

Gateway is no longer simply an out-of-state company considering whether it wants to enter the Massachusetts market. It is already building and operating fiber networks in Massachusetts and continuing to invest in additional communities.

Private Fiber and Municipal Fiber Are Two Different Questions

Longmeadow has separately spent considerable time and money investigating a municipally owned fiber network.

At the May 2026 Annual Town Meeting, voters rejected an $8.6 million proposal to begin construction of that municipal network.

The Select Board is now discussing establishment of a Municipal Light Board and whether another municipal fiber proposal should eventually be developed.

Whatever happens with municipal fiber, Gateway represents an entirely different approach.

Gateway would finance, build, own and operate its network with private investment.

Residents would individually decide whether they wanted to subscribe.

That means Longmeadow is really dealing with two separate questions:

Should Longmeadow taxpayers finance and own a municipal fiber network?

and

Should a private company be able to invest its own money to build a competing fiber network in Longmeadow under applicable state and local requirements?

The voters have already spoken on the first proposal.

The October 19 meeting may finally provide some clarity on the second.

Questions Gateway and the Select Board Should Answer October 19

There are several questions Longmeadow residents should be listening for:

1. When does Gateway expect physical construction in Longmeadow to begin?

2. Is early 2027 still the target for connecting the first Longmeadow customers?

3. How much of Gateway's engineering, pole-attachment and make-ready process with Eversource and Verizon has already been completed?

4. Which neighborhoods or sections of Longmeadow would receive service first?

5. How long would it take Gateway to build out the remainder of the town? How about the sections in town where utilities are underground?

6. Will Longmeadow residents receive pricing comparable to Gateway's current Northampton rates?

7. Most importantly, what specific approvals, hearings or other actions — if any — does Gateway still need from the Town of Longmeadow before construction can proceed?

That final question deserves a clear answer from both Gateway and the Select Board.

If Gateway can proceed with attachments to existing Eversource and Verizon poles without obtaining a separate townwide grant of location from the Select Board, residents should know precisely what municipal approvals remain necessary and what effect, if any, they could have on Gateway's construction timetable.

October 19 Could Be a Turning Point

Longmeadow residents have been discussing high-speed fiber Internet for years.

Meanwhile, Gateway Fiber has moved forward elsewhere in Massachusetts. Customers are already receiving Gateway fiber service in communities such as Northampton and Pittsfield, and the company continues to expand its Massachusetts footprint.

Now Gateway is returning to the Longmeadow Select Board with plans to move forward here.

If Gateway has completed enough preparatory work to begin construction and potentially connect its first Longmeadow customers in early 2027, residents deserve a clear understanding of what remains to be done.

SB Chair Zwirko's statement that “Longmeadow is open for business” is encouraging.

The October 19 meeting provides an opportunity for the Select Board to demonstrate exactly what that means — and for Gateway Fiber to explain exactly how and when it intends to bring another high-speed Internet choice to Longmeadow.

The Longmeadow Select Board will be meeting with Gateway Fiber on Monday, October 19 at 7:00 PM at the Greenwood Conference Room, 231 Maple Road. The meeting is also scheduled to be available via Zoom. 

What questions would you like Gateway Fiber and the Select Board to answer on October 19?  

Send your comments and letters of support for Gateway's proposal to the Select Board and Town Manager at: 
SelectBoard@LongmeadowMA.gov
TownManager@LongmeadowMA.gov 

______________________________ 

Jim Moran 
A concerned Longmeadow resident looking for high speed Internet options

What's Next for a Fiber Network in Longmeadow?

Longmeadow voters have now soundly rejected the municipally owned fiber network twice—first at 2026 Annual Town Meeting (Article 7) and again at the June 2 Annual Town Elections when the Proposition 2½ debt exclusion ballot question was defeated. The message from taxpayers was clear: they do not support using taxpayer funds and municipal borrowing to build a town-owned broadband network.

Some supporters argued that a municipal network could create a new revenue stream for the town. However, the proposed network was structured as a nonprofit municipal utility. Any surplus revenue would be reinvested into the network or returned to subscribers through lower rates. Unlike a private company, the network was not designed to generate profits that could be used to support town services or reduce property taxes.

The challenge facing the municipal proposal was that it relied on significant taxpayer investment while attempting to maintain subscriber rates that were competitive with private providers. Voters ultimately concluded that the financial risks outweighed the potential benefits.

Gateway Fiber offers a practical alternative.

Gateway Fiber is an experienced private fiber provider with recent Massachusetts projects in Gardner, Pittsfield, and Northampton. Unlike a municipal network that would still require extensive planning, financing, and construction preparation, Gateway Fiber has already completed substantial development work in Longmeadow. The company has submitted pole applications, worked through utility attachment requirements, and made make-ready payments to pole owners. These efforts have already advanced the project beyond the preliminary stages and position Gateway Fiber to move more quickly than a municipally funded alternative.

Most importantly, Gateway Fiber's proposal does not require taxpayer funding, municipal borrowing, or taxpayer-backed financial risk. Residents would receive the benefits of a modern fiber network while the company assumes the investment and operating risks.

Because Gateway Fiber is a private company, its success depends entirely on attracting and retaining customers. The company must offer competitive pricing, reliable service, responsive customer support, and a network that residents want to use. If it fails to meet customer expectations, residents can choose another provider. This market-driven accountability creates strong incentives for efficiency and customer satisfaction without exposing taxpayers to financial losses.

Competition is also good for consumers. The arrival of a new fiber provider can encourage all internet providers to improve service, increase speeds, and keep prices competitive. Even residents who choose not to subscribe to Gateway Fiber may benefit from the increased competition that a new entrant brings to the marketplace.

The role of town government should now be to respect the outcome of the votes and work cooperatively with Gateway Fiber and any other qualified provider interested in serving Longmeadow. Rather than creating obstacles, town officials should facilitate private investment that can deliver the broadband infrastructure residents want without burdening taxpayers.

The issue before Longmeadow is no longer whether the town should have fiber broadband. The issue is how best to achieve it. Voters have rejected a taxpayer-funded municipal approach. Gateway Fiber presents an opportunity to bring high-speed fiber service to Longmeadow through private investment, competitive pricing, and a faster path to deployment.

Town leaders should embrace that opportunity and work with Gateway Fiber to make fiber broadband a reality for Longmeadow residents and businesses—without asking taxpayers to bear the cost or the risk.

Jim Moran
48 Avondale Road 

Gateway Fiber Has Already Invested Millions in Longmeadow—So Why Isn’t This Widely Known?

This article was submitted to the LongmeadowBuzz by Jim Moran who is a 46 year resident of Longmeadow and as someone who has been actively engaged in Longmeadow's online presence and digital infrastructure for nearly three decades.

__________________________________________

Residents of Longmeadow, Massachusetts are being asked at the May 12 Annual Town Meeting to approve $8.6 million to begin construction of a municipally owned fiber network.

But new information suggests a privately funded alternative may already be well underway.  

After speaking directly with Derek Leffert, Head of Government Affairs at Gateway Fiber, a clearer picture has emerged of the company’s efforts in Longmeadow.

“Gateway Fiber is a privately owned fiber-optic Internet company that builds and operates high-speed “fiber-to-the-home” networks for residential and small business customers. Gateway is already active in Western Massachusetts building and delivering service in Northampton and Pittsfield. Founded in 2019, the company offers fast, symmetrical internet service with simple, transparent pricing and no data caps. Gateway is backed by major institutional investors and uses private capital to fund its network expansions, allowing it to deploy modern broadband infrastructure without relying on taxpayer funding.”

Gateway Fiber Has Been Actively Working in Longmeadow Since 2023

After speaking directly with Derek Leffert, Head of Government Affairs at Gateway Fiber, a clearer picture has emerged:

• Gateway identified Longmeadow as a target market in mid-2023

• They began pole applications with pole owners in the fall 2023

• Initial outreach to the Town of Longmeadow occurred in December 2023 but without any response.

• Mr. Leffert attended a June 3, 2024 Select Board meeting, but was not permitted to speak during the resident comments agenda item even though he made a request to speak prior to the meeting.

Since then:

• Gateway has submitted and paid for pole applications covering the full aerial network.

• They have requested make-ready estimates from pole owners Eversource and Verizon.
• Mr. Leffert reports that Gateway Fiber is "first in line" and ahead of Longmeadow in the effort to build a fiber network because they have already submitted and paid their pole application fees.

• Some of those "make ready" estimates have already been received.

Gateway reports it has already committed:

• Over $2.5 million in private capital toward developing a fiber network in Longmeadow.  This includes engineering, permitting, and infrastructure planning.

·       Importantly: This is not taxpayer money.

---

■ Barriers to Progress

Gateway has indicated that its efforts have been slowed by:

• Limited engagement with town leadership despite multiple outreach attempts

• No public hearings or structured discussions on their proposal

• A requirement made by town officials for:
  “Grant of location hearings for all addresses that our lines will pass”

According to Gateway, this requirement is: “Something that has never been done in any Massachusetts town for aerial fiber construction.”

■ What’s at Stake

At the same time this private effort is underway:

• The Town is proposing an $8.6 million taxpayer-funded investment to start building its own municipal fiber network

• Longmeadow is already committed to a $100 million middle school project

• The Town faces ongoing needs for roads, water, and sewer infrastructure

This raises a fundamental question:

Why are taxpayers being asked to fund a new network when a private company has already invested millions to build one?

---

■ A Recommendation for Town Meeting

Given this information, I believe voters should:

❌ Vote NO on Article 7

Approving this funding would:

• Commit taxpayer dollars prematurely

• Potentially crowd out or complicate a private investment already in progress

• Set the Town on a path toward a large, long-term financial obligation

■ A Better Path Forward

Rather than moving forward with a municipally owned network at this time, Longmeadow should:

✔ Pause further development of a Town-owned fiber system

✔ Hold public hearings with Gateway Fiber

Residents deserve the opportunity to:

• Hear directly from Gateway

• Understand their timeline and plans

• Compare options before taxpayer funds are committed

---

■ Call to Action

• Attend the May 12 Annual Town Meeting

• Ask questions about private-sector alternatives
  Note: According to the Municipal Optic Task Force Final Report (issued 6/10/24) Gateway Fiber was not included nor reviewed as a possible vendor.

• Request transparency and public discussion

• Share this information with fellow residents

■ Bottom Line

A private company has already invested millions to build fiber in Longmeadow.

Before committing taxpayer funds, we should fully understand and seriously consider that opportunity.

South Hadley's Financial Difficulties

Longmeadow Select Board

Below is a "letter to the editor" in today's May 19, 2026 Republican outlining significant financial difficulties on the horizon for the Town of South Hadley and its residents.  According to this LTE written by a South Hadley resident, Denise L. Presley, voters will be asked to approve a Proposition 2½ Operational Override of between $9-11 million. Ms. Presley has served on the South Hadley Electric Light Dept Board (MLP) for the past 5 years.

[A Proposition 2½ operational override in Massachusetts is not financed in the way a capital project is. It is simply a permanent increase to the property tax levy limit.]

How does this relate to Longmeadow voters and property taxpayers? 
 
The Longmeadow Select Board/ Longmeadow Municipal Light Plant (MLP) is proposing that the Longmeadow Fiber Network will be developed, maintained and operated by the South Hadley Electric Light Department (SHELD).  At the present time there is an Inter Governmental Agreement in place with many details missing from public view.  The South Hadley Electric Light Department- SHELD is a public utility and it is owned by the Town of South Hadley

 

Has the Select Board or the MLP (still to be appointed pending a charter change to the Longmeadow Town Charter at the MA State Legislature) considered the implications of  doing business with SHELD given the Town of South Hadley's financial difficulties?

 

Jim Moran/ Longmeadow Resident 

__________________________________________________

Heating oil, gasoline, mortgage interest rates and groceries are all rising. Food banks are turning the needy away, and the chief investment strategist at the country’s second-largest bank has warned that 2026 market conditions and asset performance bear an “ominously close” resemblance to the 2007–2008 financial crisis.

So how are South Hadley’s leaders responding? They’re asking its 8,000 taxpayers to increase spending:

• A $9 million or $11 million tax increase (in addition to the annual 2.5% increases state law already allows).

• A new $36.5 million building for the municipal light company (SHELD).

• $47.2 million in Wastewater Treatment Plant updates.

• $49.6 million (the 40% that won’t be reimbursed by the state) for a new elementary school.

These proposals are being supported by well-organized efforts that dismiss the affordability fears of many lower-income homeowners. Take South Hadley’s school district. It serves approximately 1,644 students, costs over $25 million annually and the yearly deficit is projected to total $3.2 million by FY 2030.

But activists contend we need a $9 million or $11 million taxation override to “save our schools.”

Another special interest group is the town’s 652 employees who want to protect their jobs and/or health care insurance.

Other municipalities are negotiating with their most profitable tax exempt organizations to make payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs), but not South Hadley. Remarkably, if the town’s largest tax-exempt property owner paid the $2.8 million assessed annually on its properties, no override would be necessary. Sadly, the town’s leadership would rather make homeowners choose between taxes, food, heat and medicine.

Two years ago, the town’s Planning Department was promoting a Housing Production Plan based on its finding that South Hadley is unaffordable. It’s unclear how the town’s spending spree will cure that problem.

However, the planners are now pushing a new bylaw to allow property owners to raise “goats or pigs, or other meat animals for your family.”

Residents can visit the town’s website and calculate the override expense for their address. If you can’t afford the new tax, which doesn’t include the existing 2.5 % increase or the fire district tax, vote no overrides on April 14. 

Denise Presley, South Hadley

When Comcast Goes Down: Using Your iPhone Hotspot to Power Your Home WiFi

Mobile Cellphone Hotspot Providing Home WiFi

When my Comcast/ Xfinity Internet service recently went offline due to a technical outage in our neighborhood, my home instantly lost WiFi. That meant no television streaming, no work-from-home access, and no connection for several computers and devices.

Instead of waiting for the outage to end, I used a simple backup solution that many people already have in their pocket: my iPhone hotspot.

Surprisingly, it worked very well.

My home Xfinity connection normally delivers about 950 Mbps download speed to my Ethernet connected devices while my iPhone cellular connection provides roughly 250–350 Mbps. That is slower than my wired internet service, but it was still more than enough to keep the household running.

Within a few minutes I had the iPhone hotspot powering:

• Television streaming
• Multiple computers/ iPad
• Work-from-home applications

Everything was operating in the same room as the phone, and performance was quite good.

However, because the phone itself becomes the home WiFi router, you should expect lower signal strength and slower speeds in rooms farther away.

---

Why a Phone Hotspot Works So Well Today

Cellular networks have improved dramatically in recent years. Modern 5G cellular networks can easily deliver hundreds of Mbps in many areas.

In my case:

Connection	Approx Speed
Comcast/ Home Internet	~950 Mbps
Verizon iPhone Hotspot	~250–350 Mbps

Even though the hotspot was slower, it still had plenty of bandwidth for:

• Zoom meetings
• Streaming TV
• Email and cloud access
• Web browsing

For most households, a temporary hotspot can keep things running during a short internet outage.  Note: In Longmeadow not all homes have access to sufficient cellular service.  

---

Limitations of Using a Phone as Your Home Internet Backup

A hotspot is a great temporary backup, but there are some limitations.

1. WiFi Range

Your phone becomes the router, which means the signal is strongest near the phone.

Devices located farther away may experience:
• weaker WiFi signal
• slower speeds
• buffering on TV streaming

2. Data Usage

Many cellular plans include hotspot limits. Streaming TV can consume a lot of data.

Typical usage:
• HD streaming: 3–5 GB per hour
• Zoom meeting: ~1 GB per hour

Check your cellular plan if you plan to rely on this often.

3. Battery Drain

Running a hotspot consumes significant battery power. Plugging the phone into a charger is recommended.
_____________________________________________________ 

Written by Jim Moran/ LongmeadowBiz

Before We Blame Comcast — or Build a New Network

 

Many residents say they’re not getting the speeds they pay for.

But here’s something worth considering in the Longmeadow Fiber discussion:

Your internet speed is only as fast as the weakest device in your home.

If you’re using:
• An 8–10 year old computer
• A spinning hard drive instead of SSD (solid state drive)
• 8GB RAM or less
• Older WiFi 4/5 hardware
• A 1-Gig Ethernet port on a 1.2-Gig plan

You may never see advertised speeds — even if the network is performing perfectly.

I recently replaced a 10-year-old Lenovo desktop with a modern SSD-based system.

Same Comcast plan 
(1 Gigabit plan- $85/month including taxes, fees and Gateway rental)
Same Xfinity gateway.
Dramatically better performance and measured speeds.

A townwide fiber network build will not automatically fix:
• Old routers
• Outdated laptops
• Mechanical hard drives
• Weak internal WiFi cards

That doesn’t mean fiber isn’t valuable. It means we should separate:

Infrastructure limitations from In-home technology limitations

Before concluding that the problem is “the provider,” it’s worth asking:

Is the bottleneck outside the house — or inside it? 

 

Jim Moran/ LongmeadowBiz, LLC

What Problem Are We Trying to Fix?

Working from Home (WFH)

Longmeadow is considering construction of a $25–30 million town-owned fiber network, financed over 20–30 years and ultimately backed by taxpayers. The proposed financial model suggests a 40–50% take rate (roughly 2,320–2,900 of 5,800 homes) is required to break even through subscriber revenue.

Before committing to long-term debt in a town already facing major capital obligations (new middle school, roads, infrastructure), it is reasonable to step back and ask:

What specific problem are we trying to fix?

Do Most Homes Need Symmetrical Gigabit Speeds?

There is a common perception that 1 Gig up / 1 Gig down — or even 5 Gig symmetrical — must be better.

But most households do not use bandwidth that way.

Typical 2026 Residential Usage Needs

[click chart to enlarge]

For most households:

• Download demand dominates. Every household does not need 1 Gig download speed.
• Upload demand matters primarily for multiple simultaneous HD video calls or heavy cloud uploads.

Most residents today report satisfactory performance with:

• 1 Gig / 100 Mbps cable service
• Streaming TV via Roku
• Video conferencing
• Gaming

References:

1. What is the Best Internet Speed for Netflix?
2.  FCC- Broadband Speed Guide
3.  Best Internet Speed for Gaming: Download, Upload & Ping Explained

1.     What are the Current Market Conditions?

Longmeadow is not a broadband desert.

Current competitive landscape:

 - Xfinity / Comcast

•  1 Gb down / 100 Mb up
•  Approximately $85/month
•  5-year rate guarantees (no contract)
•  Planned DOCSIS 4.0 upgrades nationally 

 - Verizon & T-Mobile 5G Home Internet

•  Wireless alternatives
•  Existing wireless technology already supports multi-WFH homes which could dramatically impact take-rate.

New DOCSIS 4.0 technology is designed to enable:

•  Multi-gigabit service
•  Symmetric or near-symmetric capabilities
•  2Gb/2Gb and potentially higher tiers over time

 The competitive environment could shift significantly over the next 5–10 years.

2.     Financial Framework: 5,800 Homes

Assume:

- 5,800 total serviceable homes
- Break-even requires 40–50% take rate
- 2,320 – 2,900 subscribers
- $90/month estimated municipal fiber cost

Annual Revenue at 45% Take Rate (2,610 homes):

2,610 × $90 × 12 = $2.82 million per year

If take rate drops to 35% (2,030 homes):

2,030 × $90 × 12 = $2.19 million per year

That’s a revenue difference of $630,000 annually.

In a 20–30 year debt structure, sustained shortfall can create significant financial pressure. Even if structured as an enterprise fund, bond markets and rating agencies view the municipality holistically.

3.     Capital Risk in Context

Longmeadow taxpayers are already facing:
- ~$100 million local share for new middle school
- Potential additional $200+ million of capital needs for road, water/sewer and storm sewer, school, DPW, etc. improvements as outline in the 5 year capital program (March 2025)
- Inflationary construction costs

Adding $25–30 million of subscriber-dependent infrastructure debt introduces:

• Market risk
• Competitive pricing risk
• Technology evolution risk
• Take-rate uncertainty
• Political risk if a taxpayer subsidy becomes necessary

4.     Is Symmetry the Problem to Solve?

Symmetrical speeds are technically superior.

But the policy question is: 
How many households are meaningfully constrained by 100 Mbps upload today?

If the number is small, then:

• The issue is one of preference, not access.
• The project becomes a competitive choice, not an infrastructure necessity.

That distinction matters when debt is taxpayer-backed.

5.     Technology Risk Over 20–30 Years

Fiber is long-lived infrastructure.

But:

• Cable is upgrading (--> DOCSIS 4.0).
• Wireless 5G continues improving.
• Pricing strategies may change dramatically.
• Promotional competition could suppress municipal take rate growth.

A project financed over 20–30 years assumes:

• Stable subscriber growth
• Competitive resilience
• Sufficient ARPU (Average Revenue Per Home)
• Technology relevance

In telecom markets, those assumptions carry risk.

6.     The Core Policy Question

The town must determine whether this is:
Critical Infrastructure Gap or Competitive Enhancement

If residents:

• Already receive gigabit download
• Have competitive pricing
• Have alternative providers
• Report minimal service dissatisfaction

Then the “problem” may not be capacity.

It may be:

• Price stability
• Local control
• Long-term competitive leverage

Those are policy goals — but they are different from fixing a service failure.

Conclusion

Fiber is excellent infrastructure, but infrastructure should solve a clearly defined problem.

In a town with:

• Existing gigabit service
• Competitive providers
• Major concurrent capital obligations
• 20–30 year borrowing horizon

It is reasonable to ask:

Are we solving a broadband deficiency — or entering a competitive telecom business at scale? 
Longmeadow has already heard from at least one major Internet service company that is interested in investing their own "risk capital" to bring Internet performance improvements to Longmeadow residents as well as serious competition to the existing players.  

Why is the Longmeadow Select Board continuing to block these efforts?  Let's not risk taxpayer money investing "risk capital" in this technology.
                                 _______________________________

I urge all town voters to learn about this Longmeadow Fiber project and the potential impact on the financial well being of our town and not just listen to all of the fiber "hype".

I will vote NO when this project is voted on at the upcoming Town Meeting in May.   

Jim Moran
48 Avondale Road