Ultra-Fast Internet Speeds Give Springfield a Boost

Bob Flint is hoping to persuade people from out of state to move their businesses to Springfield. The lure: ultra-fast Internet speeds that are on par with the world’s fastest connections.
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Ultra-Fast Internet Speeds Give Springfield a Boost Share This July 15, 2013 Bob Flint, the executive director of the Springfield Regional Development Corp., is hoping to persuade people from out of state to move their businesses to Springfield, Vt. The lure: ultra-fast Internet speeds that are on par with the world’s fastest connections. Springfield was a national manufacturing center for the tool and die industry. In recent decades, with the industry in decline, thousands of good-paying manufacturing jobs left the city. Now, an infusion of federal stimulus funds has brought some of the fastest Internet connections anywhere in the world to the Springfield area. The ultra-fast connections are generating enthusiasm for the economic rebirth of the region. “I‘m from here. I grew up here. I was here when things were going strong,” Flint said. “I care about this town. I believe in it. It’s a frequently-asked question down here: We were the machine tool capital of the world, what are we going to be?” Thanks to the federally-funded project, an answer to that question is emerging. The state-of-the-art fiber optic service being rolled out boasts speeds of up to 1 gigabyte per second— something unmatched in the United States except by a pilot project by Google in Kansas City. That’s 100 times faster than the average Internet speeds commonly available now. The ultra-fast Internet speed offers the power to dramatically change how we think about education, health care, and business. The super-fast connections will provide Vermonters with better health care, educational opportunities, and the opportunities to build businesses and create jobs. Aside from Springfield, its 13 neighboring towns -- Saxtons River, Chester, North Springfield, Grafton, Bridgewater, Cuttingsville, Wallingford, Hartland, Killington, Pawlet, Danby, Mt. Holly, Middletown Springs – will be equipped with state of the art connections. Through a separate federal stimulus award, Waitsfield, Vt., will also be equipped with bolstered broadband connections. “Springfield is an example of how a federal, state, local and private partnership can significantly upgrade our infrastructure. The goal now is to use this resource to attract business and create good-paying jobs,” Sen. Bernie Sanders said. “Vermont may be on the verge of reaping enormous dividends from this historic investment in our future.” The project is being built by Springfield-based Vermont Telephone Company, or VTel, which received substantial stimulus funds from the federal Rural Utilities Service to build the fiber network to its 14 town service area. VTel's monthly Internet price is about $35. A ‘HUGE ASSET’ FOR JOBS A growing list of companies are already hooked up with fiber connection, Flint said, listing Black River Meats, an offshoot of Black River Produce, Vermont Timberworks, Lucas Industries, and One Credit Union. “This is a huge asset, a huge arrow in the quiver,” Flint said of the arrival the fiber optic connections to Springfield. “Springfield used to be a machine tool town,” he said. “There are big hulking buildings that are still empty. That is going to be first and foremost in how we redevelop.” Black River Produce received its fiber connection a few months ago. “Our fiber optic connection has been a boost for business especially because we no longer get as much latency in accessing data between our two sites,” said Steve Holden, the company’s information technology manager. Vermont Timberworks secured its fiber connection this spring. “It does save us time, and time is money,” said Doug Friant, the owner of the company which specializes in designing timber frames and post and beam buildings. “It is most useful for transferring large files for design, computer design and presentation files because we can do those things a lot quicker. It was a quantum leap to go from modem to DSL and then to make the switch to a fiber connection,” Friant said. Adam Trojanowski, a 38-year-old software developer for IBM who lives in Chester, Vt., signed up for the state-of-the art fiber connection when it first became available to him at the end of last year. “I work with people in different sites and now I’m on a par with them. Before, they could tell I was remote because there was a lag,” he said. “Now, as far as they’re concerned, I am in another site of IBM.” Trojanowski believes the effort to persuade people to relocate to Springfield could be successful. “There is a lot of benefit to moving some place like Springfield,” he said. “When I told the people I work with, who live in New York, that I was getting this fiber, they were envious. I don’t think anywhere in the world has anything faster for consumers.” About 1,500 homes and business in the Springfield area already have the fiber-optic connection, a number which Vermont Telephone Co. expects to double by the end of December. By the end of 2013, VTel says the framework of the fiber work, which includes running the fiber through 14 towns and into neighborhoods, will be complete. During the remainder of this year and throughout 2014, homes will continue to be linked to that network.