Consolidated Communications (NASDAQ:CNSL) has launched gigabit Internet services via fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) within its Westfield and Chatham, NY, service areas. The company has also reached an agreement with Brooklin, ME, to upgrade and expand the community's broadband infrastructure.
Consolidated's deployment of faster broadband services in New York is supported by a grant from the New NY Broadband Program, a public-private partnership designed to provide incentives to service providers to deploy last-mile broadband connectivity in underserved and unserved areas. Through grant support from the Program and its own capital investment, Consolidated has extended fiber-based broadband service to more than 10,000 business and residential locations across its awarded projects, along with an additional 5,000 locations outside the Program. In total, more than 30 communities have received new broadband access.
"Residents and businesses in our Westfield, NY, service area now can benefit from a faster, highly reliable Internet experience due to our 1 Gig broadband service," said Rob Koester, vice president of consumer product management at Consolidated Communications. "We are open for orders and excited to provide Westfield-area communities with enhanced services that have the potential to significantly improve the lives of our customers there."
"We congratulate Consolidated Communications on its launch of fiber-to-the-home broadband service in partnership with the Broadband Program Office," said Jeffrey Nordhaus, Empire State Development executive vice president of innovation and broadband. "Broadband is a necessity for all communities in today's economy and this launch will further assist thousands of businesses and residents throughout the state."
In Westfield, the project extends fiber-based broadband services to more than 2,300 businesses and residents in more than 12 communities in the area. Installation dates are available now for Brocton, Clymer, Dewittville, Findley Lake, Mayville, Panama, Portland, Ripley, South Ripley, Sherman, Stockton, and Westfield.
In Chatham, the project extends fiber-based broadband services to more than 1,455 businesses and residents in Chatham, East Chatham, North Chatham and Old Chatham.
Streaming video services are available as well.
In Brooklin, ME, the town and the company have designed an incremental network build intended to add fiber capacity, upgrade equipment and provide network backup provisions. Consolidated and Brooklin will share the cost of constructing the network, which is targeted to be completed by June 2020.
"Brooklin has carefully explored a number of options over the years to improve broadband access and services for the community, but they were beyond taxpayer's means," said Bill Cohen, chairman of the Brooklin Select Board. "We're choosing the approach that best fits not only our present needs, but one that helps us plan for the future. Consolidated Communications' willingness to work with us on this cooperative solution is an innovative example of how collaboration between service providers and communities can solve one of the most vital challenges towns like ours experience."
