Agawam City Council supports utility legislation to spur competition

AGAWAM — The Agawam City Council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution supporting legislation to create “One Touch Make Ready” applications in Massachusetts.

The state legislation, House Bill 5290 and Senate Bill 2285, would streamline the legal application process for internet and other telecom providers.

Councilor Thomas Hendrickson, who sponsored the resolution along with Councilors Edward Borgatti and Rosemary Sandlin, said internet access is “one of the biggest cost-of-living issues” in Agawam. When combined with phone and cable, he said many residents are paying hundreds of dollars per month. He remarked, “That’s particularly frustrating when five minutes up the road, in Westfield, they’re paying a fraction of what we do.”

Hendrickson said competition for Agawam’s major internet provider, Xfinity, is the solution to the cost issue. He recalled the internet provider GoNetSpeed was interested in serving the town’s customers, but said it had to pull out after it took three years to complete the applications for access to the poles. Hendrickson said similar legislation has been passed by every other state in New England.

If the legislation passes, Councilor Cecilia Calabrese said, there is a “dig once” provision allowing municipalities to require new developments with underground utilities to include empty conduits. This would make adding future utility service less disruptive. Councilor Phil McNair countered that it would increase the cost of construction projects, which he is “concerned with.”

Councilor George Bitzas said it “makes common sense” to support the legislation, and that it should be a nonpartisan issue. “Competition is saving money,” he said.

Borgatti emphasized that the resolution is in support of the legislation and not in support of fiber internet, per say. He said, “It’s a small step, but at least it tells them that we’re alive.”