GoNetspeed Poised to Make $250M Massachusetts Investment; Amplifying Need for One Touch Make Ready

GoNetspeed Officials Testify in Support of Pole Attachment Standards

GoNetspeed, the Northeast’s largest independent fiber optic network builder, today announced it is poised to invest more than $250 million to deliver fiber optic internet to dozens of communities throughout Massachusetts. The investment would represent the company’s largest combined investment to date to bring at least 27 communities, including Haverhill, Beverly, Salem, Quincy, Yarmouth, Barnstable and many others, direct access to a future-proof infrastructure.

The potential benefit of this type of investment underlines the state’s dire need for a streamlined pole process in Massachusetts. GoNetspeed yesterday testified at the Commonwealth’s Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy in support of H.3546 and S.2285. These bills would establish standards for the pole attachment process for the construction of broadband networks utilizing One Touch Make Ready (OTMR). OTMR has been adopted and is in use in Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Allowing its use in Massachusetts would ensure that GoNetspeed is able to deploy service to the 27 planned Massachusetts communities at a quicker and more confident rate.

“Streamlining the permitting process will allow a majority of the Commonwealth to experience high-speed internet, more provider choice, and better pricing— something that is lacking in far too many communities throughout the state,” said Richard Clark, GoNetspeed President and CEO. “With OTMR in place, we stand ready to accelerate our construction in Massachusetts.”

“We have worked diligently to ensure that more communities throughout the Commonwealth are able to join neighboring Northeastern states in having broad access to a high-speed internet provider and more competition,” said David Allen, GoNetspeed Senior Vice President Network Operations. “A more efficient pole attachment process will be the key component to ensuring that we are able to build our network faster and more predictably, all while bringing more opportunity to the state.”

An improved pole attachment process, like OTMR, is vital to ensuring that underserved areas are able to benefit from broadband development. If Massachusetts is to successfully address the digital divide that has been created, regulations must be updated to expedite pole access, outline reasonable make-ready cost limitations and appropriate allocation of costs, and determine the promotion of construction techniques that maximize the use of existing infrastructure.

Currently, consumers and businesses in much of the Commonwealth lack provider choice and are left with steep pricing and slow speeds. Without an improved process, the state could lose millions in broadband funding. Massachusetts now has the opportunity to improve the current state of broadband access, unlocking a path that welcomes competition and supports policy goals outlined by the state.

“We urge the Massachusetts legislature to prioritize broadband access,” said Clark. “This is a common-sense solution that will help to close the digital divide.”

Throughout Massachusetts, GoNetspeed currently serves Amherst, Easthampton, Granby, Ludlow, and Springfield, and in the coming months, more communities throughout the Commonwealth will gain access to GoNetspeed’s service.

With a legacy of innovation and a commitment to customer service, GoNetspeed is continuing to accelerate the expansion of its fiber networks throughout nine states, including Massachusetts. GoNetspeed continues to deliver more fiber, more access, more speed, and increased reliability to residents and businesses throughout its footprint. With access to 100% fiber internet, customers have access to symmetrical upload and download speeds, ranging from 500 Mbps to 2 Gbps. Learn more about GoNetspeed at gonetspeed.com.

About GoNetspeed:

GoNetspeed, a high-speed fiber internet provider serving residential and business customers in Maine, Alabama, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and West Virginia, formed a partnership with Oak Hill Capital (“Oak Hill”) in January 2021, allowing GoNetspeed to accelerate the expansion of its fiber network throughout the Northeastern U.S. Adding thousands of new service areas every year, GoNetspeed is one of the largest independent internet providers in the Northeast. For more information about GoNetspeed, or to inquire about service in your residence, business or community, visit gonetspeed.com.

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