Broadband Communities

JAN-FEB 2015

BROADBAND COMMUNITIES is the leading source of information on digital and broadband technologies for buildings and communities. Our editorial aims to accelerate the deployment of Fiber-To-The-Home and Fiber-To-The-Premises.

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40 | BROADBAND COMMUNITIES | www.broadbandcommunities.com | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 FIBER NETWORK DEPLOYMENT Q&A; With Alan Davis, CapeNet Middle-Mile Fiber Supports Business Yes, there is life after BTOP. Here's how one of the frst BTOP grantees has grown and prospered – and helped its service area do the same. T he OpenCape regional broadband fber optic network in southeastern Massachusetts was ofcially declared open for business about 18 months ago. Its middle-mile backbone was conceived in 2006 by leaders from the local community college, businesses, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Barnstable county government, and the build was kickstarted with a BTOP grant and state funds. Te network now stretches 400 miles and serves more than 100 business locations. Te network does not directly serve residential customers, although it does help provide fber-based cellular backhaul. Spotty broadband in Western Massachusetts prompted Gov. Deval Patrick to fund the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI), which was primarily intended to aid the state's western counties. However, after Terese Murray, president of the state senate, urged the governor not to neglect the underserved southeastern counties, including Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, MBI provided early funding for network studies and design in that area. Tat made the project "shovel ready" for the 2009 national stimulus program, and OpenCape won a $32 million construction grant under the BTOP program. Nonproft OpenCape then awarded a contract to CapeNet, a separate, privately owned company, to build and operate the network. BTOP turned out to be only the beginning. BroadBand Communities talked to Alan S. Davis, CEO and president of CapeNet, just before Tanksgiving to garner some hints Alan Davis, CEO and president of CapeNet Middle-mile fber networks will be featured at the BroadBand Communities summit, April 14–16.

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