SPRINGFIELD — Concerned about fostering digital equity while expanding the number of internet providers, the City Council put off voting on a proposal from GoNetspeed, which is pushing to install fiber conduit in parts of the city.
The proposal was seemingly routine, with the private company asking for approvals to install short lengths of underground conduit at 36 different sites throughout the city. The work proposed is mostly in the tree belts, so it’s considered “minimally invasive,” since most of it will not require digging up pavement, said Christopher Cignoli, public works director.
The company is working in Ludlow now and is expanding into Springfield, starting with Indian Orchard and Pine Point. It has strung overhead lines in neighborhoods and wants to bury cable in spots where there are no connecting poles to run it overhead, Cignoli said.
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