Earlier this month the committee submitted a progress report and recommendations to the select boards of the five towns — Bethel, Gilead, Greenwood, Newry, Woodstock — that are collaborating to expand high-speed broadband to area residents. The report also went to Oxford County, which represents the two Unorganized Territories — Albany and Milton — that are also part of this effort.

The reportprovides a summary of the committee’s work since last September, which was focused on evaluating several strategic approaches to expanding broadband, and proposals from internet service providers to implement the strategies. Following are highlights of the report:

Expand existing private internet service provider networks: While this approach was favored by participating select boards, the committee was generally disappointed by the proposals from the region’s incumbent providers, Charter/Spectrum and FirstLight.

Charter’s proposal would install new fiber networks into currently unserved areas but leave subscribers that currently have Charter’s service with older cable technology connections. While FirstLight’s initial proposals would expand its fiber network to serve the whole area, it assigned 75% of the project cost to the towns. The committee is currently waiting for another proposal from FirstLight.

Broadband utility district: This approach was not a priority for the select boards, but given the disappointing responses from incumbent providers, the committee decided to explore it. GWI — a Maine-based internet service provider with extensive experience building and operating its own private networks — submitted a proposal for a utility district to the committee.

GWI’s proposed approach would build a new fiber network that would serve the whole region and create an independent broadband utility district. As presented, this approach would require little or no direct investment by the towns. GWI would construct, operate and maintain the network for the utility district. The committee is gathering more information to assess the viability, risk, and difficulty of this approach.

Fixed wireless: This approach was not considered initially by the committee. However, upon learning about new technology that has demonstrated potential for overcoming challenges with signal interference by hills and trees, thecommittee invited a preliminary proposal from Redzone, which is deploying this technology. The committee was impressed by the lower cost and rapid timeline of this approach and is waiting for the state’s evaluation of the new technology and its eligibility for grant funding.

In addition to the progress report, the committee created a series of short videos that feature local leaders speaking to the need for and importance of high-speed broadband for business, education, telehealth, and community well-being. These videos and the progress report can be found at mainewest.org/mahoosuc-broadband-committee.html.