GOHSHEN — The Select Board will hold an informational meeting Saturday at 9 a.m. on the Goshen’s quest to bring broadband to town.
Residents will have the opportunity to hear presentations from Westfield Gas and Electric, WiredWest, Comcast and Bill Ennen, a representative from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development.
Westfield Gas and Electric and Comcast have both expressed interest in building a fiber network in town, though each comes with very different proposals.
WGE is interested in building a fiber-optic network that Goshen would own, while Comcast is interested in building and owning a hybrid fiber coax network that it would operate and own.
If WGE brought broadband to Goshen, WiredWest has committed to operating the network.
Two years ago, the town unanimously voted to build a town-owned network that would be overseen by WiredWest. Those plans, however, were repeatedly stalled by planning changes within the Massachusetts Broadband Institute, the state agency charged with funding and expanding broadband internet service in Massachusetts.
After a frustrating series of stops and starts plagued the process, new proposals to provide internet service to Goshen and 40 other rural towns in western Massachusetts have emerged. A number of internet companies have proposals to provide various services to underserved towns.
At Saturday’s meeting, which will take place at Goshen Town Hall, 42 Main St., residents will be able to compare the proposals by WGE and Comcast.
The Select Board will make the final decision, but residents are encouraged to attend the meeting, ask questions and share their opinions.
Bob Labrie, the Goshen delegate for WiredWest, welcomes questions from residents prior to the meeting. He can reached at 268-7110 or at bslabrie@gmail.com. Additional information on the proposals can be found at: www.goshen-ma.us.