NORTHAMPTON — A new internet service provider is the on the verge of entering the fold in Northampton very soon.
During a City Council Committee on Community Resources meeting in July, representatives from Gateway Fiber, a Missouri-based company that started in 2019, said they are prepared to enter the construction phase for their services in September or October.
“We’re excited about the opportunity we have in front of us, and we think that it’s going to be a big boost to Northampton,” said Derek Leffert, the head of safety and government affairs for Gateway.
The company officially made an announcement in April that Northampton would be the first city in Massachusetts where their services would be provided. In that announcement, they claimed that their “multi-million-dollar investment” will bring a “far superior” online experience than what cable, DSL or 5G internet offers.
“Residents and businesses in Northampton will soon have access to Gateway Fiber’s lightning-fast, symmetrical upload and download speeds of up to 2 gigabits per second,” read Gateway’s announcement. “This life-changing technology paves the way for enhanced online experiences, including seamless streaming, lag-free gaming and ultra-fast downloads.”
So far, Leffert said that the company has already invested $3 million in Northampton to collect pole data, submit pole applications and to go through other utility design.
He said construction of the wiring will occur in two phases. Phase 1 will include 5,000 passages, which means a home or a business to which an optical fiber is near, and Phase 2 would include 4,000 passages.
After that, Leffert said they would determine where else to put wiring based on uptake. He said Gateway’s plan is to make the service as ubiquitous as possible.
“We have identified several communities here in Massachusetts that we have already begun to invest in and intend to invest a significant amount more in over the coming months and years,” Leffert said. “Northampton just so happens to be the first of those.”
In a spring interview with Reminder Publishing, Gateway Chief Marketing Officer John Meyer said that Northampton is a “really attractive market” that has “good demographics” and “good density.”
When asked about what Gateway offers for pricing, Meyer explained that the company prides itself on creating the “simplest, most transparent pricing experience they can.”
“We recognize that, you know, we have a great product, and we have a great team and great customer service,” Meyer said. “At the end of the day, people want to make sure they are getting the value they are paying for.”
According to its website, Gateway offers four different speed tiers. The entry level tier is 300 megabits per second at $65 per month and includes Wi-Fi and security features that protect against viruses.
The other speed tiers include 600 megabits per second for $75 a month, $90 a month for 1,000 megabits per second and $150 a month for 2,000 megabits per second.
“There’s no data caps, hidden fees, installation fees or taxes,” Meyer said, of the pricing. “We want to make sure that when customers choose us, it’s a long-term engagement.”
Aside from the Wi-Fi service, Gateway also offers television streaming thanks to a partnership with MyBundle TV, according to Meyer. The partnership allows customers to choose the best streaming platform for them depending on their interests. They also offer an optional home phone service for $15 a month.
During the community resources meeting, Leffert said that Gateway’s presence in Northampton will have zero impact on the city of Northampton and its budget since Gateway is a private company.
“We’re not contracting with the city,” Leffert said. “We’re going to build just as any other utility would. We’ll be building for Gateway, and we’re a standalone entity separate and distinct from the city.”
As far as net neutrality and privacy goes, Leffert claims that Gateway does not sell or loan contact information to anyone. He said that the company does, however, use information internally for marketing purposes.
The announcement of Gateway’s presence in the city comes several months after the city of Northampton hosted a public meeting to present a two-year Broadband Feasibility Study conducted by Design Nine that illustrated an overwhelming interest in municipal broadband throughout Northampton.
According to a 2021 survey, which was part of the feasibility study process, 87% of residents and 86% of businesses said they were interested in faster and more reliable internet service. The survey included 2,993 respondents, but not every person who participated answered every question.
During the community resources meeting, Mayor Chief of Staff Alan Wolf said that Gateway did a “fantastic” job of representing what the city’s goals are when it comes to serving the city equitably.
All of the committee members appeared receptive and on board with Gateway’s message. Ward 3 City Councilor Quaverly Rothenberg asked about whether it was possible to wire up all residents who are in public housing.
Leffert said that if the wiring is along the route and the state provides some sort of subsidy to help with that, then Gateway “would certainly consider that.”
One of the other Gateway representatives that was at the meeting also responded by saying there is a substantial amount of funding prioritized for public housing and low-income housing under what is called the Residential Retrofit Program.
Gateway said they would provide information to councilors regarding that program.
Ward 2 City Council Deb Klemer and Ward 4 City Councilor Jeremy Dubs also expressed appreciation for Gateway’s services.
“Very exciting, and a great service to our community,” said Dubbs.
According to Leffert, the company is running a warehouse space in Chicopee at 150 Padgette St., Unit A that features a team of local people.
Once construction of the wiring is complete, Gateway’s services will be available shortly thereafter.
In a statement to Reminder Publishing in the spring, Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra said the city will be closely watching Gateway’s move into Northampton’s internet service market.
“It’s important that our residents have more options to choose from for their broadband needs,” Sciarra said. “Our goal has always been to introduce competition that could lead to better services and lower costs. I am eager to hear how Gateway Fiber plans to ensure that everyone in Northampton benefits from expanded internet service options.”
