In 2015 the Massachusetts Broadband Institute estimated Plainifeld’s network to cost $1.78M, with $1.13M to be paid by Plainfield, and $650,000 by the Commonwealth. In early 2019, once labor and materials procurement was completed and make ready estimates were more firm, the costs were revised to $2.267M (and including the Windsor backbone). The total final project construction ended up at $2.181M. Here is a list of sources and uses of fund:
Expenses by Component |
Expense Description |
Actuals |
Design and Engineering |
Data collection/route validation/pole attachment heights (pole survey);strand maps, fiber and splice design |
$ 111,389 |
Project Management |
Procurement and construction phase oversight of network distribution and drop contractors |
$ 69,886 |
Make Ready |
Fees to Eversource and Verizon (license application, make ready); installation of town-owned poles; pole bonds FY2018, FY 2019, legal fees related to pole attachment agreement negotiation; tree clearing for town owned poles, pole application processing by WG+E |
$ 359,969 |
Telecommunications Hub |
Site work, access road, hub structure, generator, a/c, propane, interior racks and electronics |
$ 229,290 |
Fiber Network |
labor and materials to string fiber from hub to "curb" passing every premise |
$ 1,099,955 |
Service Drops and Interior Installation |
Labor and materials to string fiber from MST at "curb" to NID (to outside of premise) Labor and materials to connect NID to ONT and router (from outside to inside premise), standard installation, nominal interior wiring, phone setup |
$ 310,753 |
Total Expenses |
Including cost of Plainfield network and Windsor backbone |
$ 2,181,242 |
Revenue by Source |
Revenue Description |
Actuals |
2015 Town Borrowing Authorization |
May 2015 Annual Town Meeting authorized borrowing UP TO $1.13M |
$1,130,000 |
2017 Last Mile Grant |
EOHED May 2017 Award, less completion holdback |
$632,500 |
2018 Last Mile Grant |
EOHED May 2017 Award completion holdback |
$17,500 |
2019 Town Borrowing Authorization |
March 2019 Special Town Meeting authorized borrowing UP TO $400,000 to ensure sufficient funds available to proceed with the project |
$170,836 |
Town of Windsor |
For "backbone" to help Windsor reach Windsor residents through Windsor Pond access road, West Street, Windsor Avenue (make ready and network distribution, 112 poles) |
$84,536 |
Commercial/Institutional Subscribers |
Drop Costs Billed per Commercial/Institutional Drop Policy |
$6,870 |
Last-mile drop cost grant |
$500 ea for up to 70% of installed premises (cold drops included) - maximum award for Plainfield is 139000 (397 total premises, * 70% = 278 eligible * $500) |
$139,000 |
Total Sources |
$2,181,242 |
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Note: Plainfield also received a $430,686 federal funding award through the Connect America Fund; this will be paid to the town in 10 annual installments and will be used to reduce this capital project debt expense. |
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Substantial in-kind labor was leveraged during this project, with dozens of volunteers clearing trees and chipping brush to ready land for the arrival of the telecommunications shelter; a local business donated many hours of backhoe use and labor to grade the property to facilitate the hub placement. Plainfield’s MLP Manager and Assistant Manager worked at times up to 20 hours per week on project management and problem solving; and a team of volunteers worked tirelessly for 18 months on outreach, education and marketing efforts to ensure strong pre-construction demand and a good final take rate. This project also placed additional demands on our very limited part-time town staff, and in particular our town administrative secretary and treasurer. The time and skills required to carry out this major infrastructure project at the local level were substantial and extraordinary.
We will continue to accept service applications, as it is in the best financial interest of our tiny network to expand our monthly revenue. We will handle future requests as part of normal broadband department operations now that the capital project is substantially completed (rough estimates to provide drops to the remaining premises, or to upgrade cold drops to full service are 57K, and it is likely to take many years, and a change in property ownership or occupancy, for unconnected premises to request service).
The project debt is annually budgeted through General Fund appropriation. Ongoing network operations, including plant and equipment maintenance and repair and replacement are the responsibility of Plainfield Broadband, through it’s broadband Enterprise Fund, as approved by Town Meeting each year.
Now that the huge hurdle of providing access to the internet has been crossed, we will continue to focus on affordability of service - as it takes both access and affordability to ensure widespread broadband adoption.