Latest news with #TomFlaherty
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Whip City Fiber schedules information for residents on Wednesday to learn about town-owned gigabit internet service
SOUTHWICK — Whip City Fiber is making its final pitch to the town's residents tonight, starting at 6:30 p.m., to support an article on the warrant for the upcoming Town Meeting that will ask voters to support a borrowing authorization to build out a town-owned fiber optic network. 'This meeting presents an important opportunity for Southwick residents to understand how a town-owned fiber network could improve connectivity throughout their community,' said Tom Flaherty, WG&E and Whip City Fiber general manager. 'We encourage all interested residents to attend and bring their questions.' This session aims to educate Southwick community members on how Whip City Fiber can support Southwick with premium high-speed internet service, according to a press release about the meeting. At Town Meeting next Tuesday, May 20, residents will be asked to vote up or down on Article 9, which, if approved, would give the green light for the town to borrow up to $16 million over five years to build out the fiber-optic networks. The town has been taking steps to have the authorization to build over the last several years with two affirmative votes by residents to create a Municipal Light Plant, which was required by the state to build the network. Once the MLP was approved, the Select Board established a High Speed Internet Committee to work out the cost of the project. When the committee first began looking at the dollar amount for the network, they considered going to Town Meeting over five consecutive years to request a borrowing authorization of about $5 million. However, given the town's experience with the funding Phase II of the sewer project, in which Town Meeting voted down a borrowing authorization after approving $600,000 for the systems engineering and design, the committee decided to seek the entire amount to build the network. The most vocal supporter of the network's construction was Select Board member Douglas Moglin, who chaired the committee. Since discussions began about building it, Moglin has stressed if the participation rate of 50% — those who sign up for the service — is reached, the receipts will generate enough income to pay off the borrowing. To make that happen, the business model has subscribers paying $89 per month for the service. If the network reaches a 50% take, or participation, rate — which would be 1,843 connections — annual revenues would be about $1.968 million. That would cover the anticipated annual expenses of $1.934 million and the network would operate at a surplus of about $34,000 annually. The full cost of the network is estimated at $18 million, but the town has already allocated $900,000 from American Rescue Plan Act funds, received $250,000 from a state grant, and had a $3 million authorization approved at Town Meeting in 2023. Whip City Fiber cable already touches Southwick in several areas, including on Tannery Road and Sunnyside Drive, and there is an installed but dormant fiber-optic line that runs along the length of the Southwick Rail Trail. Whip City representatives said those areas where the cable touches homes in Southwick will be able to sign up for the internet service almost immediately if the article passes. The town and Whip City Fiber held an informational meeting in March which over 130 residents attended. After representatives of subsidiary of WG&E finished their presentation, nearly every person in the Town Hall auditorium raised their hands when asked if they would support the borrowing authorization. For those unavailable to attend the meeting it will be available online. To join the Zoom meeting log into The meeting ID is 826 7858 6933, the passcode is 671280, To find your local number visit Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Town of Webster seeking public feedback for new comprehensive plan
WEBSTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The town of Webster is working to create a new comprehensive documents serve as a playbook and guide for many town actions while they are active. This plan, when adopted, would carry the town into 2040, the town's bicentennial year. The town applied for state funding for the Smart Growth program. Webster used the funding to retain a consulting group to aid in the process. A 'steering committee' of community stakeholders was also formed for this process. The town expects this process to take 18 months. 'Citizen input and feedback will help shape the plan. Ensuring it reflects the values of our community,' said Josh Artuso, the town's director of community development. In an additional statement, the town says the 'plan aims to create walkable neighborhoods, promote clean energy, protect and enhance public spaces, and foster social diversity while ensuring development aligns with local needs and broader regional planning efforts.' Town Supervisor Tom Flaherty, who will not be seeking re-election, said zoning changes could be included in this process but hinted at one area that could be prime for redevelopment. 'The Xerox campus as it sits right now still has 700 to 800 acres on it, and as we can all understand on it, that is a zoned industrial complex. My guess is that our development as years go on would try to focus on that area,' he said. The first public meeting for this comprehensive plan process will be at the Webster Recreational Facility on April 22. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Whip City Fiber launches 2.5 gig internet in Westfield
WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Whip City Fiber is rolling out its fastest internet service yet, introducing a new 2.5-gigabit plan to provide high-speed connectivity for homes and businesses in Westfield. The new 2.5 Gig service, set to launch on March 1, delivers download speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps and upload speeds of 1.25 Gbps. It more than doubles the speed of the provider's existing gigabit service, offering lower latency and improved bandwidth for users with high-demand digital needs. 'We're committed to keeping our customers ahead of the curve,' said Tom Flaherty, General Manager at Westfield Gas + Electric/Whip City Fiber. 'Our new 2.5 Gig service ensures that homes and businesses have the speed and capacity they need for the future of digital connectivity.' Designed for modern households and businesses, the enhanced speed allows for seamless streaming, lag-free gaming, and the ability to support multiple devices without performance issues. Interested customers can visit or call 413-485-1251 to learn more and schedule an upgrade. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
