Author: WALTERBRIGGS

The Bangor Daily News and Maine Monitor ran a story this week about Fidium overbuilding our small town fiber system, and it’s a good read.

Don Hudson and Vince Capone both did a great job of explaining the situation and making the case for residents continuing to get internet service from Arrowsic/Axiom.

One word I took away from the story was the quoted description from the Consolidated (Fidium parent) spokesperson: spillover. Running fiber here was just “spillover” from the work they’re doing in Bath and Woolwich. A telling remark, IMHO. If we’re an afterthought now, it’s a good bet that we’ll remain one.

Read the article here.

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

Dear Townspeople,

The saga continues.

The short version is that we are continuing to follow the process of fulfilling the State’s requirements to gain authorization to have the boat removed. That authorization is probably 30-60 days away.

In the meantime, I continue to have regular conversations with the relevant authorities and with several businesses who can perform the clean up when the time comes. Funding remains an important unknown.

I am happy to field questions or concerns and will post updates in the weekly newsletter and, when there’s news, right here.

Walter Briggs
walter.briggs@arrowsic.org

Dear Townspeople,

Many, many hours have gone into solving the problem of the wrecked boat on our shore. We have involved the Sheriff, the State Bureau of Parks & Lands, the office in charge of Submerged Lands, our State Rep and Senator, Maine Harbormasters Association, and marine salvage experts.

At this time, the owner (unbelievably) must be legally allowed time to remove his boat. We (the Select Board) have officially declared the boat abandoned and put in motion the process required to get authorization from the State to remove and dispose of the wreckage. Based on what we know, that authorization is at minimum 3 weeks away.

Several plans are being considered for removal and cleanup (which almost certainly involves returning in the spring to clean the mud flats.) Funding remains an open question.

This situation has been eye-opening for us, to say the least. Legally, there’s nothing we could have done to prevent this from happening. And in spite of boats being abandoned in increasing numbers up and down the coast, there is currently no State or Federal law that addresses this issue.

I am happy to field questions or concerns and will post updates in the weekly newsletter and, when there’s news, right here.

Walter Briggs
walter.briggs@arrowsic.org

You’ve found our new website!

We launched in January 2025, knowing full well the site wasn’t perfect, and we’re counting on you to let us know when you find errors, broken links, or anything that doesn’t look right. Email Irene at irene.burgess@arrowsic.org, and we’ll get it fixed asap.