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Weymouth explores regional approach to bring competition to Comcast, mayor says
Summary
A viewer told the May 7 Ask the Mayor program that Comcast rates have risen; Mayor Bob Headin said the town is exploring a costly, town-wiring model in partnership with Quincy and others to enable alternative providers to offer service.
A viewer wrote that monthly Comcast bills had risen from about $182 to about $219 and asked what it would take to invite a competing internet provider to Weymouth. Mayor Bob Headin said the town has investigated alternatives and is in early-stage talks with Quincy and industry contacts about a model that would wire infrastructure and enable multiple service providers.
Headin said he met previously with Verizon and has discussed pilot and cooperative models with towns such as Quincy. He described the broad idea as “wiring the entire town” to create an open network that would allow different companies to offer end-user service, but he cautioned such projects are costly and require sufficient regional customer volume to attract private investment.
“We did some research — we didn’t have the population base to initiate what he kind of explained could be a pilot project,” Headin said, describing why the town sought a regional partner. He said a town-led wiring approach would be similar in concept to recent municipal infrastructure projects the town has pursued (for example, LED street-light purchasing and related energy grants).
The mayor suggested the town would pursue further study and a development update with technical staff and outside consultants; he did not announce a contract or timeline.
