Ledyard with their fiber network. He stated although Frontier’s work was supposed to
be completed by December, 2022, that they were still working on the project. He
went on to state because he had the same question as Councilor Saums, that he
contacted the Frontier Communications Enterprise Manager to discuss the costs for
the Gales Ferry Library to connect to Frontier. He explained although there would be
no cost to install the equipment or to run the line to the Gales Ferry Library, that the
monthly fee would be $1,000. He stated for residential use the cost of Frontier
communications would be $79.00 per month for 1-Gigabyte of internet service. He
stated it was great for residential users but very costly for commercial users. He
stated in speaking to the Frontier Communications Enterprise Manager he told him
that the Gales Ferry Library was part of a municipality and that he was told that
municipalities fall under the Enterprise Division, noting that there was no special
deals for small towns.
Mayor Allyn went on to explain that because the Grant funding would pay for the
fiber installation for the Gales Ferry Library to connect to the Connecticut Education
Network (CEN) and after the E-Rate discount, which would pay for 50% of fiber
maintenance fee that the Gales Ferry Library’s annual maintenance cost would be
$3,600 per year for now, minus the current annual $828, (cable internet) that the
Library’s net annual cost would be $2,772 for each year of the 20-year CEN
Contract, noting that there would not be a monthly fee. Therefore, he stated moving
forward with this grant opportunity was the best option for the Gales Ferry Library.
Councilor Saums stated the Grant Funding would pay for 100% of the installation of
the fiber. Library Director Jennifer Smith stated that was correct, noting that both
parties have signed off on the Connecticut State Library Grant totaling $51,838. She
stated as Mayor Allyn mentioned, this funding included half of the expense for the
20-year Dark Fiber IRU Lease, and the full cost of all network equipment, fiber
operations and maintenance, along with any additional equipment needed. She stated
the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) has committed $36,950 to
this project for the remaining half of the fiber lease. These funds would be paid
directly to the Connecticut Educational Network (CEN) and would not flow through
the town. She went on to explain with the E-Rate discount, which would pay for 50%
of fiber maintenance fee that the annual cost for the Gales Ferry Library for the
annual maintenance would be $3,600 per year. She stated they were currently paying
about $75.00 per month ($828 annually) for the Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
internet service. It was noted that minus the current annual $828 for the DSL internet
service that the net annual cost for the CEN service was about $2,772 or $231 per
month.
Ms. Smith stated the Bill Library has been using the Connecticut Educational
Network (CEN) for 5 - 6 years and that they have not had any issues with the fiber
network. She stated it worked well and the patrons were able to connect and were not
getting kicked off the internet. However, she stated at the Gales Ferry Library they
have internet connection issues, noting that it was better in some areas of the building
than in other areas of the building and patrons as well as staff have had issues with
the current Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) line. She stated that the internet service the
Gales Ferry Library was currently providing to its patrons was problematic, noting at
