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MLP manager reports $2,476.56 insurance payout, outlines Whip City equipment upgrade and customer impacts
Summary
At the Sept. 4 meeting, MLP manager Ken McInerney said the town expects a $2,476.56 insurance check for pole damage and described a Whip City equipment upgrade that will cause short downtime, require ONT resyncs, and may require new static IPs; the MLP will cover up to $1,000 per household for two grant-funded connections.
At the Sept. 4 New Ashford Select Board/MLP meeting, MLP manager Ken McInerney said the town can expect a $2,476.56 insurance check to cover pole damage from a Route 7 car accident and outlined a planned equipment upgrade with Whip City that will affect customers.
McInerney told the board he met with John Leary of Whip City about the upgrade, which he said will take place on the 25th or 27th and could cause up to 30 minutes of downtime while ONTs resync. He said customers using static IP addresses will need new static IPs after the work. McInerney said Whip City plans to offer higher-speed tiers after the upgrade — up to 2.5 gigabits per second download and 1.5 gigabits per second upload — for an additional cost.
Why it matters: the upgrade could briefly interrupt service and requires coordination with customers who have static IPs; the town will also need to decide whether to subsidize or help customers migrate settings.
McInerney said the MLP will use grant funds to cover connection costs of up to $1,000 per residence for the two previously discussed households; he has not heard back from the resident at 274 Route 7 to confirm whether they want the connection. He also reported Whip City has not provided an update on a telephone issue for the Fire Department since Aug. 23 and that Whip City will perform repairs at 276 Route 7 and on Ingraham Road.
The manager advised that new construction installing underground wiring should bury an extra conduit to simplify future connections. Board members noted that residents with static IPs will need advance notice and technical support to avoid unexpected outages.
Next steps: McInerney said there will be a follow-up meeting with Whip City on Sept. 13; he will continue outreach to the affected residents and to the Fire Department to resolve the telephone issue.
