(TNS) — 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.
Some of the streets include Parker Street, Boston Road, Breckwood Boulevard, Fargo Street and Almira Road, he said.
“This is a big economic development issue,” City Councilor Jose Delgado said. “We need fiber throughout the city, but we need to vet it.”
If GoNetspeed decides to wire half the city and stop, no other company will look at Springfield to bring in broadband, because the higher-income neighborhoods, where more people are likely to sign up, already will have service, he said.
Delgado, who heads up a council working group on digital equity, recently proposed that the city seek bids from companies interested in upgrading all of Springfield’s digital infrastructure.
Currently, city residents largely rely on media giant Comcast to provide their internet, but officials across the city have wanted to bring in other companies, saying more competition should lower prices and improve service.
Bringing in fiber also will increase the speed of the internet, which city councilors said is needed to help businesses and residents who need better connections for work and school.
Cignoli said GoNetspeed has filed plans only for work it expects to do this year, and its long-term design has not been released to the city.
Officials for the company did not return requests for comment Thursday.
“When we look at the different streets and areas, I just want to make sure they don’t forget the inner city,” said City Councilor Malo Brown, who represents Ward 4, which includes the Mason Square neighborhood.
City Council Vice President Tracye Whitfield said Ward 2, where she lives, often struggles with poor internet connections, especially at peak hours.
She said she had a lot of questions about the customer service GoNetspeed will provide, and what it will do about outages and IP protections.
The City Council agreed to move the vote to its next meeting in August.
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