## Acushnet Could Gain New Internet Provider, But Interest is Key
ACUSHNET – Acushnet residents – and perhaps others on the SouthCoast – may have another internet and phone service provider option aside from Xfinity and Verizon, and those who make it known that they’re interested could be among the first to get hooked up.
According to i3 Broadband Vice President of Community Affairs and Market Development Mike Elam, the company – which specializes in fiber optic-based internet and phone service – is based in illinois, but has had a stronghold in Rhode Island’s East Bay since 2017.Now, Elam says i3 Broadband wants to take advantage of its nearby Rhode Island presence by expanding into the SouthCoast.As part of that campaign, i3 Broadband reached out to the town of Acushnet where Elam and some of his i3 colleagues attended the Aug. 26 Board of Selectmen meeting to introduce themselves and share their plans.
“… we’re looking for places to expand and sadly … there’s a lot of communities over here that have one choice,” Elam told the board.”Which means, when you don’t have competition, price tends to go up, customer service tends to go down and the overall satisfaction of everything just wanes. So, we’re looking to bring choice and competition to the area.”
According to Board of Selectmen Chair David Wojnar, most of Acushnet is onyl equipped for connection with Xfinity, with small pockets around town able to have Verizon.
“It’s been an issue for me, personally,” Wojnar told The Standard-Times of the lack of service provider competition. “Also, my colleagues on the board, both past and present, have said if there’s anything we can do to facilitate consumer choice, that’s a good thing.”
## What does i3 Broadband offer?
With more and more peopel dropping cable television service and favoring streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu, Elam said i3 Broadband is focusing only on internet and phone service, offering packages from 1 gigabit up to 8.
According to i3 Broadband’s Rhode Island-based General manager Matt Torrenti, hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC)-based service, like Comcast (Xfinity) provides, has “a lot more things that can go wrong” than a fiber-based network.
“Unless it’s a major fiber cut … it’s going to be vrey reliable,” Torrenti told the selectmen.
“All of our customer service is literally right across the state line in East Bay,” pointed out Elam. “So if you have a problem, you’re not talking to another country – you’re talking to another state.”
i3 Broadband Expanding Fiber Optic Service to South Coast communities in massachusetts
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i3 Broadband is actively planning an expansion of its fiber optic internet service to several communities in the South Coast region of Massachusetts, including Acushnet, Somerset, Swansea, New Bedford, Dartmouth, and Fairhaven. The company is prioritizing areas with demonstrated resident interest in high-speed internet options.Residents can express their interest and help accelerate the rollout by submitting their address on the i3 Broadband website.
Assessing Community Interest
According to i3 Broadband’s Regional President, Michael Elam, the company is strategically gauging local demand before commencing construction. “When we’re ready to light up customers, they are the first ones we will call,” Elam stated. “It really helps us to know… if there’s an area where,say,60% of these people want the service. Then we know we want to get to that area as fast as we can, but we want to build the whole community.” https://www.i3broadband.com/
This approach allows i3 Broadband to efficiently allocate resources and ensure a strong initial customer base in each new service area. The company aims to bring competition to communities currently underserved by existing fiber optic providers.
Current Expansion Plans
i3 Broadband has already completed preliminary assessments in several towns:
Somerset: A “walk-out” has been completed, and the company is “pretty much ready to go” with service deployment.
Swansea: is slated to be the next community to receive detailed planning and outreach.
New Bedford, Dartmouth, and Fairhaven: i3 Broadband intends to initiate contact with officials in these cities to explore potential expansion opportunities.
The company is actively seeking communities without existing fiber optic infrastructure to offer a competitive service.
why Fiber Optic Internet?
Fiber optic internet offers significant advantages over customary cable or DSL connections. These include:
Faster Speeds: Fiber optic cables transmit data using light, enabling significantly faster download and upload speeds. This is crucial for bandwidth-intensive activities like streaming, online gaming, and video conferencing.
Increased Reliability: Fiber optic cables are less susceptible to interference and degradation than copper cables, resulting in a more stable and reliable internet connection.
symmetrical Speeds: Fiber optic connections typically offer symmetrical speeds, meaning upload and download speeds are equal. This is particularly beneficial for users who frequently upload large files or participate in video calls.* Future-Proof Technology: Fiber optic infrastructure has a much higher capacity for data transmission, making it well-suited to accommodate future increases in bandwidth demand.
How to Express Your Interest
Residents interested in i3 Broadband service can visit the company’s website at https://www.i3broadband.com/ and enter their address in the designated field. This will notify i3 broadband of local demand and help prioritize service deployment in their area.
Looking Ahead
i3 Broadband’s expansion represents a significant investment in the South Coast region’s broadband infrastructure. By bringing fiber optic internet to more communities,the company aims to enhance connectivity,support economic growth,and improve the quality of life for residents. Continued community engagement and expression of interest will be key to accelerating the rollout of this vital service.