BROADBAND INTERNET PROJECT IS PROGRESSING

As of March 23, 2021, execution of the project make-ready process steps is continuing. Great progress has been made since the last report.

As per earlier reports, the first step of the make-ready process referred to as "pole setting” involves placing a new utility pole in the ground next to an old pole that needs to be replaced. Many of you have probably witnessed Verizon and Eversource crews performing this work during the winter months. The old poles are then removed once all electrical and telecommunication cables have been transferred over to the new poles. There is a total of 3,369 utility poles in town. Eversource is responsible for 1674 of the poles, and Verizon the other 1695. Per the list of utility poles that Verizon and Eversource jointly identified earlier as needing to be replaced (~108 Verizon poles and ~50 Eversource poles), as of this report Verizon has "set" all poles they are responsible for replacing with the exception of two poles - one that Verizon needs Eversource’s assistance with, and another that’s cracked. As of this report, Eversource has also "set" all poles they are responsible for replacing. But as reported by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) Eversource’s “pole setting” progress is not being tracked and reported separately from the next step in the make-ready process, referred to as “first make ready.”

Following “pole setting” the “first make ready” step in the make-ready process involves Eversource moving electrical wires as required, following all pole setting. Verizon is not involved in “first make ready.” As of this report, Eversource has completed 99% of the construction work required to move the electrical wires. And Eversource is still providing an estimated completion date of 3/31/2021 for the completion of "first make ready."

As per earlier reports, the step in the make-ready process that follows “first make ready” is referred to as "second make ready." This step involves Verizon moving telecommunication wiring they own on the utility poles as required, following the moving of all electrical wiring on the poles. Eversource is not involved in this step. Verizon can follow closely behind Eversource, and perform their work once Eversource's crews have exited an area. As of this report, Verizon has completed 57% of the construction work required to move all telecommunication wiring they own. And Verizon is still providing an estimated completion date of 4/30/2021 for the completion of "second make ready."

Since January’s status report, some additional make-ready steps have been identified by MBI and brought to the town’s attention. What are these additional steps in the process? Following the completion of “second make ready” MBI will be using a third-party contractor to relocate the state’s Middle Mile network fiber optic cables that are attached to some of the utility poles in town to make room for the new fiber optic cables Charter will need to install. This step is referred to as “third party make ready” (3PMR). MBI has provided an estimated completion date for 3PMR to be 30 days following the completion of “second make ready.” Today MBI is providing an estimated completion date of 5/30/2021 for the completion of this step.

The final step of the make-ready process is referred to “residual make ready” (RMR). What is this? After all make-ready construction work has been completed and Charter has been issued all of the licenses required, Charter then reserves the right to conduct a thorough inspection of all the utility poles to make sure that all make-ready has been completed and that there is room on all of the utility poles to attach its new fiber optic cable. If Charter finds any issues they will report them to MBI, Verizon, and Eversource. The timeframe for cleaning up any RMR issues will depend on the number of issues found. Charter will be able to begin construction of its network following the resolution of any RMR issues. If there are no RMR issues, Charter could begin construction in early June. Hopefully this will be the case. MBI should be able to provide the town with an estimated start date for the network construction phase of the project in its next quarterly report, scheduled to be provided in early June. Charter is contractually obligated (via the contract between Charter and MBI) to complete all network construction no later than one year after the construction phase begins.

Progress is definitely being made, so stay tuned!  Check back in June for the next project report.