High-speed internet access expands in Bernardston, Northfield under new cable deal 

By BELLA LEVAVI

Staff Writer

Published: 01-16-2023 11:49 AM

Almost all of the houses in Northfield and Bernardston not previously covered by Comcast are gaining coverage under a new, 10-year licensing agreement about to be signed by all parties. 

“When they came through western Mass. to bring towns up to snuff with high-speed internet, they did not fully expand to our town,” explained Brian Keir, chair of the Bernardston Selectboard.  

Now, after three years of negotiations, about 50 of the 57 residents in Bernardston who did not have access to broadband internet through Comcast will be able to connect. Keir explained this is an estimate, because more houses continue to be built in rural areas of the towns that may not be accounted for. 

A handful of houses in Northfield also were added to the coverage area. Northfield is now 98-99% covered, according to Alex Meisner, a member of the Northfield Selectboard. 

"Everyone today deserves the right to information and high-speed internet grants them that right," Meisner said. 

Keir explained the infrastructure needed to bring coverage to these homes will cost approximately $750,000 to $1 million. The cost will be split among the two towns, Comcast, and Massachusetts Broadband Institute. Bernardston will pay $60,000 of the cost, and Northfield will pay $13,500. 

Massachusetts Broadband Institute was started under Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration. The technology collaborative works to provide high-speed broadband internet access to all homes in Massachusetts.

“This is a small investment knowing that it was going to be $1 million. We thought it was important to get these homes served by high-speed internet,” Keir continued. 

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Keir said it became apparent how important broadband internet connection was during the pandemic. “Students who did not have access to the internet struggled,” he said.

He said schools gave out hotspots to students in homes without connectivity, but it showed a glaring problem in their infrastructure. 

The two towns hired an attorney who specialized in licensing agreements to negotiate the 10-year license. According to Keir, they focused on expanding coverage in the negotiations. 

Also agreed upon in the license were new additions to Bernardston-Northfield Community Television (BNCTV). There will now be a high-definition channel for the station and an increase in the Public, Educational, and Governmental Access Channels (PEG) fees. The increased PEG fee, seen on people’s cable bills, will go towards public access television stations, in this case BNCTV. 

“We are glad it is a done deal,” Keir said. “It will be in the books for another 10 years.”

Bella Levavi can be reached at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com

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