For over twenty years, I have pondered the possibility of creating our own broadband fiber optic network to provide a new competitive option for our residents and in the process, dramatically improve access to the Internet.   Working together with staff we spent several months developing a plan that would allow us to do what is necessary to build such a network. Today we are operating such a network with 1,000+ customers. We were selected as one of four communities to participate in the Governor’s ConnectAll Program. That means we are being financially supported to install a fiber to every home.  We would like to engage you, our community and as with our Village owned and operated electric distribution system, ask that you sense your ownership along with your neighbors and friends by joining our new internet system.

 

​It’s one of the questions I hear most often: why don’t we have more options for Internet access in Sherburne especially from our neighbors in the rural Township? Reliable Internet is critical infrastructure – no different than electricity, water, sewer, or roads.   This is our answer.  Creating a Village owned fiber optic network. We now support all residents of Town of Sherburne and Town of Columbus as well as all Sherburne Electric customers.

 

​Reliable Internet / fiber is critical infrastructure.  We are now operating SherburneConnect Fiber Internet with over 1,000 subscribing customers, but the potential benefits driving the concept and our work include:

 

1. Substantially lowering the cost of Internet access for residents and businesses.

2. Significantly increasing the speed and reliability of Internet access.

3. Taxes would not be increased to fund the network  

4. Nobody will be forced to participate. Participation would be on a voluntary, opt-in basis.

5. Providing competition and giving residents multiple options for Internet Service Providers on demand in real time.

6. The creation of a state-of-the-art network that will improve economic development and foster innovation. 

7. Leverage the network to improve the services provided in the Village and Sherburne Electric territory including public safety, transportation, healthcare, education, emergency communications, transactive energy (smart grid) and new services that will become possible with advanced network infrastructure.

 

The Village has built a fiber optic network. You can see the Village line trucks installing cable today in your neighborhood. We’ll be sharing more information and answering your questions via our website, community meetings, social media and a series of other outreach efforts. Reliable internet is part of today’s way of life. A fiber optic network is critical.

 

I wish to thank Governor Hochul and Chairman CEO Justin Driscoll at the New York Power Authority for supporting Sherburne as a pilot project and look forward to seeing where this process leads us together as a community. I also wish to thank Congresswoman Tenney for her early support of funding.

 

                                                                                                          William Acee – Mayor of Sherburne