When we last visited the issue of municipal broadband, the Westerly, Rhode Island town council was weighing a proposal from SiFi Networks to build a $30 million fiber-optic network. The system was to be taxpayer funded through annual payments ranging from $1 million to $2.5 million over 30 years. SiFi “guaranteed” the network would generate […]
Category: Broadband
Muni Fiber Proposal a Bad Bet for Westerly
Westerly’s Town Council is currently considering whether or not to enter into a contract with SiFi Networks of London to build a $30 million fiber-optic network. SiFi is proposing to build the network and the town would lease-purchase it from the company at an annual cost of $1 million to $2.5 million over 30 years. […]
Municipal Fiber not the Right Path
On its May 2nd editorial page, the Concord Monitor opined that “Concord should embrace municipal fiber optic network”. The question residents need to ask themselves is: Why? Concord currently has several broadband providers that serve its residents. Why would taxpayers foot the bill to duplicate existing networks? The Monitor offers a quote from a former […]