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:
When does Gateway expect physical construction in Longmeadow to begin?
Is early 2027 still the target for connecting the first Longmeadow customers?
How much of Gateway's engineering, pole-attachment and make-ready process with Eversource and Verizon has already been completed?
Which neighborhoods or sections of Longmeadow would receive service first?
How long would it take Gateway to build out the remainder of the town? How about the sections in town where utilities are underground?
Will Longmeadow residents receive pricing comparable to Gateway's current Northampton rates?
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
