The gaps in internet affordability, availability, and reliability are becoming increasingly important. Today the internet links our culture, the economy, and society. Connectivity expands opportunities and enlarges possibilities when affordable and available to all. Residents who are unserved and underserved are disadvantagedbecause of existing barriers to digital access. A key consideration the Town is evaluating is whether broadband infrastructure should be treated as essential infrastructure and should the Town take an active role in ensuring every resident and business can connect.

Any public capital investment in infrastructure must also consider its usefulness and capacity to handle the projected growth of consumption. Over the past 30 years, the amount of data created, captured, copied, and consumed has increased. This trend will continue, and fiber-optics has a significantly higher capacity, longer lifespan and greater durability compared to other broadband media such as cable and wireless technologies.

The main purpose of this study is to determine the capital cost to build a community fiber network and what the monthly internet cost to subscribers would be. The Town would only move forward with this project if the cost to build a faster, more reliable network could be recaptured through monthly subscriber costs at or below current rates from incumbent carriers.

The goal of a Town owned fiber network would be to offer a consistent, dedicated, high speed broadband connection to ALL residents and businesses in the community at an affordable price.

Access for all is a key consideration for this analysis. The Town seeks to understand how focusing on digital access investments can facilitate greater economic, educational, other local goals and priorities for all residents. Service subsidies do not effectively solve these problems long-term but are designed only to manage the problem. The Town can include necessary structural reforms as part of plan execution.

In Dartmouth like most cities in the U.S. there are various private businesses that provide internet access to residents and businesses. Broadband availability, speed, and pricing are controlled exclusively by these private entities. There is no requirement that they provide equitable or affordable access to all residents, which can leave some at a disadvantage by being unserved or underserved.

The Town recognizes and appreciates the historical investment already made by incumbent providers. The Town does not plan to force existing operators to change their current operations. They will be able to continue to offer their services as they have in the past.

All wireless technologies depend on fiber-optics. Wireless works best the faster it gets to fiber-optics. Major companies like AT&T & Verizon are now pursuing both a fiber-to-the-home strategy and a 5G strategy – stating publicly that these technologies are complementary.

Community owned broadband networks have been in existence for close to 20 years in the United States. While some of the early networks struggled, there are many examples of successful networks over the past 10 years. The Broadband Committee is exploring all options and will only proceed if confident that the Town can successfully provide a faster, more reliable, and cost-effective alternative to the current options.

We anticipate the study to be completed in 4-5 months and presented to the Select Board in March of 2024. The report will include an assessment of the current broadband market in Dartmouth, results of a Town wide broadband survey, and financial costs and modeling for various Town owned options. If the Town chooses to move forward with a community fiber network, the timeline to build the network would be determined based on availability of funding and resources.

There is a contact us tab on the website for residents and businesses to communicate questions, concerns, or support. Public input from residents and businesses is welcomed and encouraged.