[Hidden-tech] Wired West: Rowe hosts broadband meeting Saturday

[Rich Roth]

(From Greenfield Recorder - March 12, 2015)*

Rowe hosts broadband meeting Saturday*

*

By DIANE BRONCACCIO Recorder Staff*

ROWE — For an average tax bill increase of about $28 a year for the next 
20 years, Rowe residents could have access to high-speed broadband 
Internet and telephone services through the WiredWest initiative, 
according to Selectmen’s Chairwoman Marilyn Wilson.

On Saturday, residents can find out about the town’s “last-mile” 
options, at an informational meeting at the Rowe Elementary School, 
beginning at 10 a.m.

According to information provided by Wilson, thetotal cost for building 
out broadband infrastructure in this town of roughly 400 residents is 
roughly $1.3 million, with the state to pay for about one-third, with 
$440,000 through the appropriated Massachusetts Broadband Initiative. 
Rowe will pay for $860,000 of the project through taxes.

For this broadband to become a reality, at least 40 percent of the 
town’s households must sign up in advance, and make a $49 deposit. The 
deposit will be held in escrow and used to pay for the first month’s 
servicefees.


(It will be refunded if the project doesn’t go forward.) Residents can 
sign up now through:http://wiredwest.net <http://wiredwest.net/>At 
annual town meeting this spring, voters will be asked to authorize a 
bond to pay for Rowe’s last mile of cable, by a two-thirds majority vote.

“If this passes, Rowe will join the real world,” says an informational 
letter, signed byboth the town’s Broadband Committee and Selectmen. 
“It’s our hope that Rowe will vote for this initiative. It will prevent 
our town from becoming a backwater with an ever shrinking population,” 
says the letter.

The letter points out that broadband can affect the quality of life and 
economic development opportunities by enabling people to work from home, 
access online education, provide online medical consultation,improved 
Internet telephone service, and improveproperty value of homes.

Rowe’s residential tax rate is currently $6.07 per $1,000 valuation — 
one of the lowest in the state. The town’s commercial and industrial 
property, taxed at $13.38 per $1,000 of valuation, yields most of 
thetown’s taxes.

You can reach Diane Broncaccio at:dbroncaccio at recorder.com 
<mailto:dbroncaccio at recorder.com>or 413-772-0261, ext. 277


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