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.
This page was set up to help communicate the project status as well as hopefully answer any questions you might have.
This page was set up to help communicate the project status as well as hopefully answer any questions you might have.
Overview of 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
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’ will begin once the $1.8 Million bond has been issued. The progress of the installation will be tracked periodically on this website once installation commences.
1. Running the fiber optic cable on the poles
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’ will begin once the $1.8 Million bond has been issued. The progress of the installation will be tracked periodically on this website once installation commences.
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. Although we don't know exactly when the site that is specifically for Walpole will be 'up', it will likely be sometime this Fall., and it 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: https://www.consolidated.com/residential/internet/new-hampshire-fast-internet
This town website will provide notification when this happens.
Consolidated Communications Inc. website is here: https://www.consolidated.com/residential/internet/new-hampshire-fast-internet
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 only happen at 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.
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. Expect to see a simple spreadsheet on this website following that progress..
Key to Map - Street Names - for the 10 work areas
Key to Map - Street Names - for the 10 work areas
‘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
|
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. |
|
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!
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
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) |