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Fidium pitches townwide fiber to Albany selectmen; offers 300x300 service for about $85/month
Summary
Jim Gillis of Fidium told Albany selectmen the company can bring symmetrical fiber to town, offering 300 megabits up/down service with phone service and a written proposal; he said deployment is straightforward and contracts typically run 36–60 months.
Jim Gillis, representing Fidium, told the Albany Board of Selectmen on July 22 that fiber service is available to the town and that the company can provide symmetrical Internet circuits and VoIP phone service.
“We're moving towards that, which gives you a lot more of a robust network,” Gillis said, outlining the limits of older copper and cable systems and contrasting them with a true fiber product. He described a 300-megabit-by-300-megabit plan as the company’s baseline and estimated an “all in” price ‘‘probably about $85 a month’’ including router and equipment. Gillis said the service is symmetrical — a 500-meg circuit would upload and download at the same speed — and that contracts are typically 60 months, though he can offer 36-month terms.
Selectmen asked practical questions about number porting, transition time and local IT support. Gillis said number transfers are handled during the cutover and that transition is typically quick with little downtime. He offered to work with the town’s outsourced IT provider and to provide references from other Carroll County towns that have adopted the service.
The Chair moved the presentation earlier in the agenda; Gillis agreed to deliver a written proposal and an itemized estimate for town services. “I'll send you a proposal…you print it, look at it,” he said, and asked the board to return a signed agreement to begin work. Board members agreed to have Gillis submit a formal quote for the next meeting.
Next steps: Fidium will provide a written estimate and contract options for Selectmen review; the Board did not take a vote on a contract at this meeting.
