01 Nov Daily Hampshire Gazette: Reliable broadband already available in Northampton
By Tim Wilkerson
High-speed internet for school, work and connecting with loved ones is more important now than ever, and it is paramount that every Northampton resident have access to secure, reliable broadband — as they do today through existing providers.
Before Northampton voters head to the polls to decide the future of government-owned and controlled broadband by a municipal electric division, it should be noted there’s much more to operating a fast, reliable network than just putting fiber in the ground. Network demands are constantly changing and require evolving cybersecurity protection. New network entrants who don’t have a plan or resources to support ongoing network innovation and protection may put customers who rely on them at unnecessary risk.
Local governments just don’t have the resources to match this level of support. The residents of Concord saw this firsthand when the city’s government-owned provider suspended installations, refusing to connect any new customers for the first seven months of the pandemic. Now, some community leaders are asking Northampton voters to back this same model, but wouldn’t it be better to dedicate resources for green spaces, schools, roads and bridges or other priorities rather than borrowing more or raising taxes?