A Fiber-to-the Home Network in our Town?

Fiber-to-the-home is a relatively new technology. Here's a summary of what it means to our towns:

  • Fiber means phone, cable television, and very fast Internet
    This network would bring not only Internet, but also phone service and cable television to every home in town. This provides competition with both Fairpoint and Comcast, both of whom have shown very little interest in providing rural areas with broadband services.
  • Fiber network is town-owned, with no cash outlay
    The network would be leased to the town by a leasing company through an interlocal agreement with a number of other area towns. It would use the subscription revenues to make the lease payments, and eventually return revenues to the town. Enough money would be borrowed to cover the lease payments until subscription revenues take over.
  • Fiber would be available to every household in town
    The interlocal agreement requires that the service be made available to everyone in town who wants it. The network would go past every household in town. Even wireless implementations can't make this promise.
  • Fiber means eventual revenue to the town
    After the revenue generated by the network covers the lease payment and operating costs, the profit is shared between the towns.
  • Fiber is the technology of the future
    Compared to fiber, copper technology is obsolete. Fiber is the fastest known technology, using light as its transmission medium and one of the world's most stable materials, glass. The fastest available equipment connecting to it does not come close to tapping its potential. As faster equipment becomes available, upgrades are relatively simple.
  • Fiber means open access to other vendors
    There are many applications for a fiber network, and many vendors that would be interested in using it for delivery of their services. Open Access means that all vendors would be charged the same access fees. SoverNet is currently using Burlington Telecom?s network to deliver their services. Other possible examples
    - Additional cell phone service in rural areas not currently served, by any (or all) of the major cell providers.
    - Television services provided by other vendors such as Comcast.
    - Enhanced emergency communications