Dear Neighbors,
I found a postcard in my mail today from fidium fiber internet, and I suspect you did as well. It warrants our attention, and I’d like to make a few points explaining why the Town-owned fiber service is the best choice for all of us.
Why you don’t want fidium…
- Fidium promises “better internet is coming to town.” That is simply not true. The fiber is the same. The equipment is the same. The customer service, however, is another story.
- The introductory rate of “starting at $30/mo” looks shiny and attractive, but it is being used to try to drive the Town system out of business, is not sustainable for any provider, and their rate will ultimately be set not for your but for the benefit of their corporate shareholders.
- They claim speeds of to 2 Gig available, but they are selling capacity you don’t need and likely cannot even use.
- Fidium and their parent Consolidated Communications both have dismal customer approval ratings. See TrustPilot, for example. Constant service outages and poor customer service are most frequently cited.
Why you do want Arrowsic/Axiom…
- The current fiber-to-the-home internet provider is the Town of Arrowsic. We contract with Axiom to manage the business, but we – you – own it.
- As a Town-owned business, we operate for the benefit of our residents.
- We are not for profit. If excess funds are generated, they go into the Town coffers to reduce property taxes. (Not currently projected, but possible in the future.)
- We are literally your neighbors. Arrowsicans put thousands of volunteer hours into bringing this service to our homes. And now we have a daily reason to make sure it works: nobody wants unhappy neighbors!
There are many things we enjoy about living on this island. We depend on each other. We feel a palpable sense of community. And we are proudly independent. Please think about how it affects the whole Town if you are considering switching to fidium.
Comments are always welcome.
Sincerely,
Your Select Board