Town Broadband Project
On March 14th 2020 town residents voted overwhelmingly (135 YES vs. 2 NO) to approve Warrant Article 2 to raise and appropriate funds for a bond for the purpose of furnishing, constructing, and installing facilities and equipment to make available to residential and business locations in the Town of Walpole a “Fiber to the Premises” network by Consolidated Communications Enterprise Services, Inc. The vote set in motion a process that will continue over the next year or two and which will result in access to high speed broadband to every premise in Walpole that chooses it.
The groundwork has been laid - Consolidated is NOW connecting customers to Fiber Optic Broadband Service.
For those interested in getting this service ..........
Sign up or Learn more at Consolidated's website HERE
Prefer the phone? Call 888-804-0262
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Of Note:
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Overview of the work
, Installation of the ‘backbone’ of the fiber optic cable throughout town involves a three step process before individual premises can be hooked up.
1. Running the fiber optic cable on the poles (underground in some cases).
2. Splicing that cable to itself at, what are called, ‘splitter boxes’
3. Testing the cable to insure that all connections are good to go.
Once these 3 steps are complete it will then be possible to connect individual premises to the fiber optic network.
The actual work of installing the ‘backbone’ began on August 24, just 1 1/2 weeks after the $1.8 Million bond was issued. The progress of the installation - called 'Progress Updates' - will be tracked every 2 weeks on this website in the space below.
1. Running the fiber optic cable on the poles (underground in some cases).
2. Splicing that cable to itself at, what are called, ‘splitter boxes’
3. Testing the cable to insure that all connections are good to go.
Once these 3 steps are complete it will then be possible to connect individual premises to the fiber optic network.
The actual work of installing the ‘backbone’ began on August 24, just 1 1/2 weeks after the $1.8 Million bond was issued. The progress of the installation - called 'Progress Updates' - will be tracked every 2 weeks on this website in the space below.
What Comes Next?
Check most current "Status Update" below for the latest progress
Click on the link immediately below for a description of the next (and last) steps for getting your home connected.
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Status Updates
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Status Update January 27, 2021
Good news! The 'backbone' nears completion and 'installs' are about to begin. There remain questions for those eager to sign up , however, about how best to get that done. Register on CCI's website and wait for them to call? Or is it better to just call CCI and go from there? And making things just a bit more complex CCI's website does not seem to recognize some valid street addresses, making it difficult to 'sign up'. These glitches are not insurmountable but can be a trifle frustrating so, if at first you don't succeed ........ In the meantime we will work with CCI to get these minor glitches resolved and , make no mistake, Consolidated is working to bring fiber customers online.
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Status Update January 13, 2021
We are now on the homestretch towards the completion of the 'backbone', with:
We are now on the homestretch towards the completion of the 'backbone', with:
- 100% of the Fiber Optic Cable in place on the poles (and underground)
- 93% of the Splicing work done
- and Testing in progress throughout our town
| 2020_jan_13.doc |
Status Update December 28, 2020
Progress has slowed a bit during the holidays. Look for an uptick of work when the new year begins.
| december_28_update.doc |
Status Update December 14, 2020
Consoldidated's laying of the fiber cable is nearly done, there has been great progress splicing that cable. Now work has begun on testing those connections, the last phase of work prior to beginning to connect individual homes and businesses. See update below:
december_14_2020_update.doc
Consoldidated's laying of the fiber cable is nearly done, there has been great progress splicing that cable. Now work has begun on testing those connections, the last phase of work prior to beginning to connect individual homes and businesses. See update below:
december_14_2020_update.doc
Status Update December 1, 2020
Progress continues on cable Splicing as the Fiber Build hovers just shy of 100% complete. Exp ect that Testing will commence soon. (Click on the link below to see update.)
december_1_2020.doc
Progress continues on cable Splicing as the Fiber Build hovers just shy of 100% complete. Exp ect that Testing will commence soon. (Click on the link below to see update.)
december_1_2020.doc
Status Update November 16
Fiber Install nearing completion, with Splicing already well under progress and Testing soon to be started. Check out current status in November 11 file below.
Fiber Install nearing completion, with Splicing already well under progress and Testing soon to be started. Check out current status in November 11 file below.
| november_11_2020.pdf |
Status Update November 2
Progress continues.
Progress continues.
| 2_november_2020.pdf |
Status Update October 19th
| 19_oct_20_update.pdf |
Status Update October 5
Significant progress continues, and Splicing has begun!
Significant progress continues, and Splicing has begun!
| 5_oct_2020te.pdf |
Status Update September 21
Significant progress these last two weeks! See report link below.
Significant progress these last two weeks! See report link below.
| 2020-09-21_update.pdf |
Status Update September 8th
(double click on the file below to download a PDF to your computer)
(double click on the file below to download a PDF to your computer)
| 2020_-_09-_08._update.pdf |
Status Update 8/28/2020
Today, Friday, marks the end of the first full week of actual fiber optic installation, with 2 CCI crews laying cable n town. And the work is progressing quickly. We'll have our first official tally of progress from Consolidated on Sept 8 but in a brief interview with Officer Scott Landry - on safety duty with a CCI crew - he relayed the fact that over the years he had seen a lot of crews lay cable but had never seen progress like this. This bodes well for our project
It's also worth noting here, as this work begins, that the safety of these crews, and that of our police officers is dependent the rest of us behaving well as we travel the roads in the vicinity of these crews. So let's all be safe out! there!
Today, Friday, marks the end of the first full week of actual fiber optic installation, with 2 CCI crews laying cable n town. And the work is progressing quickly. We'll have our first official tally of progress from Consolidated on Sept 8 but in a brief interview with Officer Scott Landry - on safety duty with a CCI crew - he relayed the fact that over the years he had seen a lot of crews lay cable but had never seen progress like this. This bodes well for our project
It's also worth noting here, as this work begins, that the safety of these crews, and that of our police officers is dependent the rest of us behaving well as we travel the roads in the vicinity of these crews. So let's all be safe out! there!
Status Update 8/14/2020
Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!
As of this morning Walpole has received the sum of one million, eight hundred fifty-six thousand, and one hundred dollars ($ 1,856,100) from the New Hampshire Bond Bank. So we are, if only temporarily, quite flush! Of course, these funds are dedicated to seeing our fiber optic broadband install through to it 's completion
Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!
As of this morning Walpole has received the sum of one million, eight hundred fifty-six thousand, and one hundred dollars ($ 1,856,100) from the New Hampshire Bond Bank. So we are, if only temporarily, quite flush! Of course, these funds are dedicated to seeing our fiber optic broadband install through to it 's completion
Status Update 7/15 2020
Huzzah!
The New Hampshire Bond Bank put our bond up for 'sale' on Tuesday July 14. We got word the very next day that the bond was 'picked up'. This is excellent news in the midst of a challenging economic time. We expect that these funds will be released on August 12 to allow the work to begin.
Huzzah!
The New Hampshire Bond Bank put our bond up for 'sale' on Tuesday July 14. We got word the very next day that the bond was 'picked up'. This is excellent news in the midst of a challenging economic time. We expect that these funds will be released on August 12 to allow the work to begin.
Status Update 5/22/2020
Bond Bank application approval - Peggy Pschirrer passed on the good news that the Bond Bank has approved Walpole's loan application for the bond. Completing the extensive paperwork necessary for this application was probably the least fun of all the steps in achieving our goal of 'broadband for all'. Many thanks to Sarah Downing, Jodi Daigle, Ron Keissle and Peggy Pschirrer for getting this done!
Bond Bank application approval - Peggy Pschirrer passed on the good news that the Bond Bank has approved Walpole's loan application for the bond. Completing the extensive paperwork necessary for this application was probably the least fun of all the steps in achieving our goal of 'broadband for all'. Many thanks to Sarah Downing, Jodi Daigle, Ron Keissle and Peggy Pschirrer for getting this done!
Status Update 5/14/2020
Contract signed by Walpole Selectboard!
Last night our selectboard, after several months of negotiations, signed a contract with Consolidated Communications.
Next steps acceptance by the Bond Bank, sale of the bond and we are on our way to fiber optics. The Bond Bank has set an issue date at August 12
Contract signed by Walpole Selectboard!
Last night our selectboard, after several months of negotiations, signed a contract with Consolidated Communications.
Next steps acceptance by the Bond Bank, sale of the bond and we are on our way to fiber optics. The Bond Bank has set an issue date at August 12
Status Update 4/21/2020
“Splitter boxes’ are essential components in a fiber optic system where the long lengths of cable are spliced together. Tomorrow morning a few of us will go on a tour of the town to review CCI's proposed placements for the splitter boxes. There will be 8 of these in Walpole and 2 in N Walpole.
(pic of one recently installed in Spofford)
“Splitter boxes’ are essential components in a fiber optic system where the long lengths of cable are spliced together. Tomorrow morning a few of us will go on a tour of the town to review CCI's proposed placements for the splitter boxes. There will be 8 of these in Walpole and 2 in N Walpole.
(pic of one recently installed in Spofford)
Walpole Project Map
The map above shows the 10 distinct work areas of Consolidated's approach to installing fiber in our town. Each section has a different color (though there is some duplication in the naming of those sections). One of the purposes of dividing the work area up in this manner is to allow multiple work crews to work effectively. Once work commences, on August 17, we'll be tracking the progress of the work in each of these areas. That progress will be updated every 2 weeks.
click to expand Detailed Street INfo
‘Map Key for Walpole Fiber Install
Revision of 19 June 2020
Gray – Bellows Falls Exchange FDH #1 Fiber Path
Church St # 14 thru 155, West St, Kiniry St, Ash St, Pearl St, Spruce St, Pine St, Maple St, Russell St, Birch St, Brady St, Capron St, Duffy St, Marshal St, Oak St, Bank Dr Ln
Main St #938 thru 1164, Green St, Killeen St, Vine St, Center St, Merchant St, East St, One Fifty Ln, Dunning Ln, Cray Rd, Mountain View Dr, Taylor St, Hillcrest St, Kilburn St, Willow St
Main St #498 thru 970A(gas co), Ocean State, Meadow Access Ln, Pinnacle Ln, Red Barn Ln, Pete’s Stand Ln, Horne Ln, Avery Ln, Whitcomb Rd #519 thru 602, Cold River Rd #26 thru 307, Brewery Rd, Scale Ln
Whitcomb Rd #37 thru 489, Upper Walpole Rd #124 thru 232, Sandhill Rd, Blanchard Brook Cir, Valley Rd #84 thru 318, Old Drewsville Rd #460 thru 718, Ball Rd, Prentiss Ln, Old Cheshire Turnpike Rd #10 thru 234, Common Rd, Alstead Center Rd, Cold River Rd #594 thru 622.
Westminster St, Elm St, Pleasant St, Downtown Main St (west side) & # 6, 11, 12 Main fed from Prospect Hill Rd, Middle St, South St #16 thru #22, Ford Ave, Prospect Hill Rd to Hooper Golf, County Rd to #220, Short Ln, Wentworth Rd to #4 thru 327
Kingsbury Rd to #24 thru 238, Prospect Hill Rd #219 thru 241, Watkins Hill Rd #28 thru 499, Farnum Rd
#22, Stevens Ln , Derry Hill Rd #16, 58, County Rd #800 thru 1547, Cochran Ln, Whipple Hill Rd, Adams Ln, Carpenter Hill Rd, Merriam Rd, Scovill Rd, Goldsmith Tavern Rd, Old Stage Rd, Crehore Rd, Four Winds Rd #57, Maple Grove Rd, North Rd #390, Ramsay Hill Rd, Thompson Rd, March Hill Rd #22 thru 278, Alice Smith Ln, Evans Ln, French Ln
Barnett Hill Rd, March Hill Rd #321 thru 507, #22 thru 37, Walpole Valley Rd #63 thru 147, Valley Rd
#326 thru 778, Rust Farm Rd #38, Eaton Rd, Rascal Mountain Rd, Rice Mountain, Woodshed Ln, Swain
Ln, Cheney Hill Rd, Laclair Rd, Santaw Ln, Hayes Rd #61 thru 74, Old Cheshire Turnpike Rd #250 thru 319
Old Keene Rd #6 thru 543, Macri Ln, Hooper Rd, Hillside Acres Rd #46, 49, Bookseller Rd, Industrial Park Dr, Hall’s Crossing Rd, Hidden Acres Ln, River Rd #380 thru 713, Boggy Meadow Farm Ln, Wilson Rd, Wentworth Rd #349 thru 834, Mill Rd, Bridge St, Meetinghouse Rd, Stillpoint Ln, County Rd #302, 318 & 364 thru 721, Pinewood Circle, Aldrich Ln, Graves Rd, Farnum Rd #80, 82, Taggard Rd, Black Lead Mine Rd, Galloway Ln, Alyson’s Way, Blackjack Crossing Rd, Seward Rd
South St #37 thru 69, Walker Rd, N River Rd #16 thru 101, Hillside Acres Rd #15 thru 28, Hogan Ln, Webster Ln, River Rd S #16 thru 208, NH RT 12 #650, Fanny Mason Ln, Cabot Ln, Putnam Ln
Downtown Main St (east side) + # 53 thru 79, Westminster St # 8, High St, Good Cir, School St, Applewood Ln apts, Union St, Flat St, North Rd #100 thru 156 & #211 thru 331, Reservoir Rd, Old North Main St, Colonial Dr, Pomeroy Farm Ln, Old Drewsville Rd #17 thru 409, Levi Ln, Phipps Ln, Stowell Rd
Main St #114 thru 417, North Rd #3, Bemis Ln, Primary Ln, Bundy Ln, Angier Rd, Homestead Ave, Maplewood Cir, Firehouse Rd, Potato Barn Ln, Huntington Ln, March Hill Rd, Darling Ln, Edwards Ln, Pinnacle Ln, Ames Plaza Ln, Upper Walpole Rd #46 thru 122 , Dearborn Cir, Burrow’s Ln
Revision of 19 June 2020
Gray – Bellows Falls Exchange FDH #1 Fiber Path
Church St # 14 thru 155, West St, Kiniry St, Ash St, Pearl St, Spruce St, Pine St, Maple St, Russell St, Birch St, Brady St, Capron St, Duffy St, Marshal St, Oak St, Bank Dr Ln
- Light Pink – Bellows Falls Exchange FDH #2 Fiber Path
Main St #938 thru 1164, Green St, Killeen St, Vine St, Center St, Merchant St, East St, One Fifty Ln, Dunning Ln, Cray Rd, Mountain View Dr, Taylor St, Hillcrest St, Kilburn St, Willow St
- Light Green – Bellows Falls Exchange FDH #3 Fiber Path
Main St #498 thru 970A(gas co), Ocean State, Meadow Access Ln, Pinnacle Ln, Red Barn Ln, Pete’s Stand Ln, Horne Ln, Avery Ln, Whitcomb Rd #519 thru 602, Cold River Rd #26 thru 307, Brewery Rd, Scale Ln
- White – Bellows Falls Exchange FDH #4 Fiber Path
Whitcomb Rd #37 thru 489, Upper Walpole Rd #124 thru 232, Sandhill Rd, Blanchard Brook Cir, Valley Rd #84 thru 318, Old Drewsville Rd #460 thru 718, Ball Rd, Prentiss Ln, Old Cheshire Turnpike Rd #10 thru 234, Common Rd, Alstead Center Rd, Cold River Rd #594 thru 622.
- Orange – Walpole Exchange FDH #1 Fiber Path
Westminster St, Elm St, Pleasant St, Downtown Main St (west side) & # 6, 11, 12 Main fed from Prospect Hill Rd, Middle St, South St #16 thru #22, Ford Ave, Prospect Hill Rd to Hooper Golf, County Rd to #220, Short Ln, Wentworth Rd to #4 thru 327
- Purple – Walpole Exchange FDH #2 Fiber Path
Kingsbury Rd to #24 thru 238, Prospect Hill Rd #219 thru 241, Watkins Hill Rd #28 thru 499, Farnum Rd
#22, Stevens Ln , Derry Hill Rd #16, 58, County Rd #800 thru 1547, Cochran Ln, Whipple Hill Rd, Adams Ln, Carpenter Hill Rd, Merriam Rd, Scovill Rd, Goldsmith Tavern Rd, Old Stage Rd, Crehore Rd, Four Winds Rd #57, Maple Grove Rd, North Rd #390, Ramsay Hill Rd, Thompson Rd, March Hill Rd #22 thru 278, Alice Smith Ln, Evans Ln, French Ln
- Red – Walpole Exchange FDH #3 Fiber Path
Barnett Hill Rd, March Hill Rd #321 thru 507, #22 thru 37, Walpole Valley Rd #63 thru 147, Valley Rd
#326 thru 778, Rust Farm Rd #38, Eaton Rd, Rascal Mountain Rd, Rice Mountain, Woodshed Ln, Swain
Ln, Cheney Hill Rd, Laclair Rd, Santaw Ln, Hayes Rd #61 thru 74, Old Cheshire Turnpike Rd #250 thru 319
- Lime Green – Walpole Exchange FDH #4 Fiber Path
Old Keene Rd #6 thru 543, Macri Ln, Hooper Rd, Hillside Acres Rd #46, 49, Bookseller Rd, Industrial Park Dr, Hall’s Crossing Rd, Hidden Acres Ln, River Rd #380 thru 713, Boggy Meadow Farm Ln, Wilson Rd, Wentworth Rd #349 thru 834, Mill Rd, Bridge St, Meetinghouse Rd, Stillpoint Ln, County Rd #302, 318 & 364 thru 721, Pinewood Circle, Aldrich Ln, Graves Rd, Farnum Rd #80, 82, Taggard Rd, Black Lead Mine Rd, Galloway Ln, Alyson’s Way, Blackjack Crossing Rd, Seward Rd
- Light Blue – Walpole Exchange FDH #5 Fiber Path
South St #37 thru 69, Walker Rd, N River Rd #16 thru 101, Hillside Acres Rd #15 thru 28, Hogan Ln, Webster Ln, River Rd S #16 thru 208, NH RT 12 #650, Fanny Mason Ln, Cabot Ln, Putnam Ln
- Yellow – Walpole Exchange FDH #6 Fiber Path
Downtown Main St (east side) + # 53 thru 79, Westminster St # 8, High St, Good Cir, School St, Applewood Ln apts, Union St, Flat St, North Rd #100 thru 156 & #211 thru 331, Reservoir Rd, Old North Main St, Colonial Dr, Pomeroy Farm Ln, Old Drewsville Rd #17 thru 409, Levi Ln, Phipps Ln, Stowell Rd
- Dark Blue – Walpole Exchange FDH #7 Fiber Path
Main St #114 thru 417, North Rd #3, Bemis Ln, Primary Ln, Bundy Ln, Angier Rd, Homestead Ave, Maplewood Cir, Firehouse Rd, Potato Barn Ln, Huntington Ln, March Hill Rd, Darling Ln, Edwards Ln, Pinnacle Ln, Ames Plaza Ln, Upper Walpole Rd #46 thru 122 , Dearborn Cir, Burrow’s Ln
Frequently asked Questions
If I like the service and the provider that I have, can I keep what I have even after the new fiber optic cable is installed?
Yes, you bet, there is no need to change either your provider or your service if you like what you have.
I’m interested in taking advantage of this new service, when it becomes available – How do I get connected?
Consolidated Communications will be setting up a website for Walpole. In addition to providing information about the fees and services available this website will provide the opportunity to 'pre-register' for this new broadband service. We are expecting that Consolidated with have a Walpole website, by mid-October which will be at least a couple of months ahead of the tie when the actual hookups can begin.
This town website will provide notification when this happens.
Consolidated Communications Inc. website is here: lInk to CCI's website
This town website will provide notification when this happens.
Consolidated Communications Inc. website is here: lInk to CCI's website
Will the fiber optic be run throughout the entire town of Walpole, including both Drewsville and North Walpole?
Yes the fiber cable will cover the entire town but the connections to individual premises will happen only per the request of residents.
HOW WILL THE BOND that the town approved BE PAID?
Those residents who choose to receive this service will pay a monthly user fee in addition to the regular service fee. The user fee will be $7.30 per month for the life of the bond.
How much will the new service cost?
There will be a broad range of service levels available via the fiber optic cable from 25 Mbps (Mega bits per second) up to 1,000 Mbps. The cost for the monthly service will vary based on the plan one chooses, with typical plans having a monthly service fee from $50 to about $70. Phone and television service will also be available. Per our contract with the provider these monthly service fees will be less than, or equal to, the rates charged to subscribers in other portions of New Hampshire.
CAN THE FIBER OPTIC CABLE BE INSTALLED IN THE GROUND IN CONDUIT?
Yes. If you already have conduit to the premises it's very helpful to have a 'pull rope' to facilitate install of the cable.
If you plan to install conduit in future here are some recommendations for doing so. In either case, it's important to note that, for conduit systems,the customer retains ownership and maintenance of the conduit system.
If you plan to install conduit in future here are some recommendations for doing so. In either case, it's important to note that, for conduit systems,the customer retains ownership and maintenance of the conduit system.