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Goal 1: Replace the town's current Institutional Network (I-NET)

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Milton's I-NET is used by our schools, first responders, and other town departments.  It is a vital component of our town's communications infrastructure. 

 

But it's old technology, insufficient to meet 21st century data and communication demands of our community.

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And it's owned and controlled by Comcast.

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MMFI advocates for the creation of a new, state-of-the-art, fiber-optic I-NET, owned and controlled by the town of Milton, as described in the cost and design report commissioned by the town.

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For context around this report, see the Municipal Broadband committee's timeline.

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Goal 2: ​Create a town-wide fiber-optic network for all Milton residents, businesses, and local non-profits

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Once Goal 1 is achieved, the new I-NET can act as a foundation that we can expand into a town-wide, fiber-to-the-premise network, enabling all Milton residents and businesses to subscribe and enjoy the benefits of gigabit speeds at a reasonable cost.

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Here's a short video explaining fiber-to-the-home (from the UK but still applicable to Milton).

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​​​Are these goals realistic?

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Yes!  Many towns not so different from Milton, both nationally and in Massachusetts, have or are building municipal fiber-to-the-home networks.  Check out more detail here.

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The non-profit Community Broadband Networks Initiative of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance maintains a terrific website chronicling municipal broadband systems in the United States.  

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Municipal broadband across the country takes many different forms.  Of all the towns and cities who take this path they’re all slightly different.  Because there’s no one-size-fits all solution we have the opportunity to shape our broadband network to serve the needs of all Milton stakeholders: residents, town government, businesses and non-profits.