FAQs

Here are the answers to some of the most commonly raised questions about the proposal.

Q: What is fiber and why is it better?

A: Fiber optics are bundles of glass cables that will connect and send the signals of the internet to houses in Westmoreland using light pulses, rather than electric signals through a TV cable or phone line. This technology can send 100 times more information and the signal will not weaken with distance as with the older copper cables. The cables are strung on the existing telephone poles and look no different than what we are used to seeing.

Q: If Consolidated Communications is still the provider, won't we all still have the same terrible service?

A: The copper network currently in place has been in existence for several decades, has been spliced countless times creating breaks in the wire that are highly susceptible to humidity, rain and other moisture. Fiber optic technology is not susceptible to moisture (it even works submerged in water) is significantly easier to repair when broken. Additionally, CCI is investing heavily in updating their customer service. The best news is when the fiber optic network is finished, there will hardly ever be a reason to call them!

Q: There’s no such thing as a free lunch. How can this cost nothing to the town and my taxes?

A: In the contract with Westmoreland, CCI has stated that it will reimburse the town for the cost of the bond, for the life of the bond. There is no minimum number of subscribers or any other conditions that must be met by the town or taxpayers. ONLY those who choose to be subscribers will pay a fee not to exceed $11/month, which CCI will use to repay the town. The fee* will actually decrease during the term of the bond as more of the principal is paid off.

*THE NOT TO EXCEED $11/MONTH SUBSCRIBER FEE IS IN ADDITION TO THE COST OF YOUR INTERNET SERVICE

Q: What if they don’t get enough subscribers? Why would a company agree to pay off our bond without any guarantee of profit from customers in Westmoreland?

A: The bottom line is this is a calculated business decision the company is making with numerous towns in our region. CCI wants to hold on to its customers and is literally betting, at its own risk, that we as its customers will stick with the superior service it will build. No one is obligated to subscribe, and the onus is on CCI to prove it is worth being your internet provider.

Q: What if CCI becomes insolvent and can't pay back the bond?

Consolidated Communications is a billion dollar company, operates in 23 states, has the 10th largest fiber optic network in the country, and the largest in northern New England. The likelyhood of its going bankrupt is very small. But in the interest of exploring every remote possible downside, we see the following scenario.

If someday CCI is unable to provide internet service and/or pay the town for its debts, the town has collateral in its possession: a complete fiber network that once completed is worth approximately $5-7 million with an already established customer base. Any Internet Service Provider would jump at the opportunity to take on this turnkey operation, and the town would be able to stipulate a similar user fee structure to resume paying for the bond.

Q:What if new technology comes along?

A: This is not an exclusive contract. If you prefer other technology,when your personal contract is up (currently 2 years) switch to whatever service you like. You will no longer pay the CCI $11 subscriber fee. Of course, CCI knows they have to remain competitive so you should absolutely anticipate they will stay current with whatever breakthroughs may occur – for both speed and price.

Q: If this is all so great, why do you need to promote it?

A: You know the saying, “Democracy is not a spectator sport”? Nowhere is this more true than in our tradition of Town Meeting. Don’t just assume “everyone else” will do their part. Plus, having a strong showing at Town Meeting signals a true community interest and investment in this broadband project, and will show CCI that we are putting our trust in them and will hold them accountable.

Q: Will the broadband project bring 5G mobile service to Westmoreland?

A: The broadband project is only to connect houses with fiber-optic cable. None of the proposal is related to any wireless technology. No 5G technology is used to create the 1-gigabit Fiber-to-the-Premises network.

Q: So what’s all the fuss about 5G? Will this project be harmful to me and my family?

A: Fifth-generation (or 5G) wireless internet uses significantly more bandwidth and thus requires fiber-optic connections for its antennas. Just like the entire history of cell phone technology, 5G is being rolled out in dense urban areas where wireless providers have enough customers to make the huge investment worthwhile.

Unlike all previous mobile technology, 5G requires many more antennas much closer together—like, several per city block. So will having fiber in Westmoreland inevitably lead to the installation of small-cell 5G antennas on every telephone pole in town? Well, if we don’t have enough of a customer base in Westmoreland to warrant a big corporation investing to connect our homes (without a bond) it is similarly difficult to fathom a wireless provider would focus its efforts to make our town the only place between Manchester and Albany with 5G service.

And while we can’t speak to the safety or harm of 5G signals, it does seem likely that the scientific and medical community will find an answer from studying those living in cities long before wireless providers would even find Westmoreland on a (coverage) map. Regardless of where you fall on the issue of expanding any level of cell phone service in town, we’re likely to stay where we are for the foreseeable future.

Q: How will having a 1Gigabit, Fiber-to-the-Premises network affect the town economically?

A: The Committee has identified 2 major ways approval of this bond may impact the economic viability of our town.

Business Development: First, for the town to expand its property tax base (and lower residential property taxes) it must attract new business development along the RT 12 business corridor. Due to the communication needs of today's businesses, no company will currently locate in an area that does not have high speed Internet access. By approving this bond, that problem will be solved and the business corridor will become more appealing for growth. New business means increased tax revenue which, in-turn, will help lower residential property taxes.

Home Resale Feature: Secondly, Westmoreland will soon be surrounded by communities offering fiber optic networks. Chesterfield and Keene already have high speed Internet capabilities. Walpole, along with Dublin, Harrisville and Rindge will all go to Town Meeting next month asking voters to approve a bond to construct their networks. It is a well know fact that home buyers today want to locate in towns that provide high speed Internet connections so they can work from home, allow their children to do homework, and enjoy streaming programs. In order to keep Westmoreland as a town with a favorable home resale market, we need to be one to the towns with a fiber network. As Realtor Nancy Proctor, Sales Director for the Masiello Group/ Better Homes and Gardens wrote to us,

"Having access to fiber optic is becoming more and more important in today's world. Most buyers are requesting that homes they are looking to purchase have this feature.

We had a sale fall through last week 3 days before closing because the buyer's could not find a suitable alternative to fiber optic and they work from home and their company would not pay for an expensive option.

We sold 26 condominiums in Chesterfield in 1 1/2 years as they were told Consolidated was offering this option in Chesterfield. Many of the buyers would not have purchased if it wasn't coming to Chesterfield.

This is only going to get more important in the future as the younger generations start purchasing homes. They will not even look at homes if they do not have it.

It is as part of today's working world."

Nancy

Q: What will this cost?

A: Basic pricing will be consistent across all of CCI's New Hampshire customers. The difference in bills across the state will be due to the monthly service fee CCI will charge subscribers to pay back the cost of the bond to the town. Westmoreland subscribers will pay a not to exceed $11/ month fee. Since Chesterfield has a larger customer base than us, they only pay $10/ month.

Below is the published service rates Chesterfield is paying as of February 19, 2020. Note: it also includes their $10/month subscriber fee so, if Westmoreland had our network already installed, we would pay the same as this chart plus $1/mo. Additionally, unlike the chart below, the service is now symmetrical so the upload speed (information you send to others) will now equal the download speed (information you receive from others). Speeds up to 1000/1000 will be available.

If you have poles and/or underground conduit CCI can use to connect to your house, there is no connection fee. Only if you have a specific problem, i.e. no poles or no room in your conduit and another has to be buried, will there be an additional charge. This will be rare and you will know this in advance.