Way back in 2005 we profiled the Massachusetts towns of Shutesbury and Leverett, two shining examples of the kinds of U.S. towns that have fallen into broadband connectivity black holes. Large regional providers like Verizon didn't want to upgrade the markets (Boston still hasn't been upgraded to FiOS), and could barely be bothered to keep aging copper in the region fully functional.
A decade later and Leverett last October formally launched
LeverettNet, a new network that now delivers up to two gigabit speeds with no usage caps to the town's previously-underserved masses.
The company started by offering locals symmetrical gigabit connections for $65 a month. Starting January 1, locals will now be able two get 2 gigabit connections for $25 a month plus a $50 monthly LLMP operating fee ($75 a month).
Contrast that to Comcast's price tag for two gigabit service: $300 a month with $1000 worth of installation and activation fees. You'll quickly realize why ISPs have turned to protectionist stat laws to ban towns and cities from wiring themselves.
The town also announced this week that it's lowering prices for all of its services (the exact opposite of what usually happens this time of year). The cost of gigabit and phone service is dropping from $44.95 to $39.95 per month, while the price of telephone service is dropping from $29.95 to $24.95 per month (see all prices here). The outfit also announced this week that the project would have a notably lower impact on property taxes than expected.
LeverettNet is the first ‘Last Mile’ project fed by the MassBroadband 123 fiber-optic ‘middle mile’ network, a project backed by state and federal governments which brought fiber-optic connectivity into the town of 1,876 residents early in 2014.
Voters approved borrowing $3.6 million in 2012 -- or roughly $1,900 per resident -- to deliver fiber to 800 premises and connect to the MassBroadband 123 network. Leverett contracts a private local ISP by the name of Crocker Communications to provide broadband service.
LeverettNet notes that over 650 of 800 homes in town have signed up for service, an 80%-plus connection rate showing just how hungry the town was for the kind of service ISPs like Verizon simply refused to provide. Of course the giant incumbent ISPs will complain, but like most municipal broadband efforts this one would have never been born if the private sector had been motivated to give locals better, faster, cheaper service.
Update: We've since confirmed that LeverttNet isn't technically offering 2 Gbps, they're just dropping the price of their 1 Gbps service and associated bundles, and increasing the speed of their POP to 2 Gbps. The last mile connections for these users will remain 1 Gbps. We apologize for any confusion.