Drop/Installation Policy
REVISIONS TO COLRAIN BROADBAND ALLOWANCE FOR DROP/INSTALLATION COSTS
Effective November 1, 2021, the current Colrain Broadband policy regarding the allowance to cover some or all the costs to connect a home with internet and/or phone will be revised.
Currently the policy provides for an allowance of up to $2,000 toward the actual cost of a connection for home and business owners who subscribe to monthly service and continue with service for at least one year.
The actual cost of a connection depends on many construction factors and ranges from about $650 to a few thousand in some cases.
On October 31, 2021 the current policy will expire and be replaced with the following:
For home or business owners of record on or after November 1, 2021, an allowance of up to $650 will be offered to cover all or a part of the actual cost to connect, provided the owner subscribes to monthly service and continues service for at least one year.
If you have questions, please contact customer service at Whip City Fiber at 413.485.1251.
Approved by the MLP Board September 28, 2021
In order for a subscriber to receive internet service, the fiber network must be connected to your house via a drop (the connection from the utility pole to the side of your house) and an installation (the connection from the side of your house to the wireless router inside your house). The cost for the physical connection will depend on many factors. Colrain will pay up to $2000 of the drop and standard installation costs. (The $2,000 allowance covers only work done by contractors under contract with Colrain Broadband/Whip City Fiber. Cost for work done by the homeowner or homeowner’s contractor is not covered by the allowance.) This will cover the entire cost of connecting approximately 85% of the homes in Colrain.
Payment of excess costs above the $2,000 allowance by the homeowner is required in advance of the start of the drop/installation work.
Please note: The allowance offered for drop/installations only applies to households who sign up for Internet service. ‘Cold drops’ are not covered by the allowance.
Until the engineering and construction contractors are on site in Colrain the actual cost of the drop and installation to a specific house is not available. Once the actual signup for service commences the costs for each connection will be determined.
A standard installation includes the connection from the Network Interface Device on the outside of the home to the Optical Network Terminal located inside (typically in the basement near the utility panel) plus an Ethernet connection up to 50 ft to the Wi-Fi router, located on the first floor. Any additional interior wiring requirements will be charged to the customer at cost and will usually require another visit. The equipment and router are included. Installation costs above those of a standard installation are the responsibility of the subscriber.
Drops will either be aerial (above ground) or buried (underground). Underground connection is a multi-step process. First, we will schedule an initial visit with you to review your site and finalize the installation estimate. Second, we will contact DigSafe to identify the location of existing underground wiring. Third, we will schedule a date to perform the installation. In rare cases more than one visit to review the site might be required. The cost of all such follow up visits will be the responsibility of the homeowner.
For connections costing over $2,000 (typically involving long driveways, additional poles, and/or involving underground service), your installer will work with you to identify the most cost-effective solution, and you will receive a reasonably accurate estimate in advance of any drop and installation costs for which you will be responsible.
Let customer service know if you want to discuss other options. Alternate arrangements or additional home wiring can be arranged, but may incur additional costs, which will be the responsibility of the customer.
Drop/installation costs to be repaid: If a subscriber cancels service within the first year, they will be required to reimburse the Town of Colrain for the full actual cost of the drop/installation to their home. The only exceptions are if the cancellation is a temporary disconnect (for seasonal residents or tenant moves), or if the home is sold.
Adopted by the MLP Board 8-10-21