Months after obtaining several franchise agreements in New Hampshire and West Virginia that allowed it to overbuild Comcast markets in those states, Atlantic Broadband said Tuesday that it will invest $82 million to extend its fiber network into communities and businesses in those areas it doesn’t currently serve.

The effort will affect about 70,000 homes and businesses in several communities  throughout New Hampshire and West Virginia already served by Comcast. In a press release, ABB said it has obtained or is in the process of obtaining franchise agreements in Concord, Dover, Somersworth, Durham and Madbury, New Hampshire; and in Westover, Morgantown, Granville and Star City, West Virginia.   

Overbuilding cable systems is nothing new, and several small operators have obtained franchises to compete with large and medium-sized cable  companies over the years. Comcast obtained a franchise to provide service in nearby Rochester, New Hampshire in 2017, a market that was already served by ABB’s MetroCast Cable, and both companies have appeared to flourish. 

Also: Greener Pastures

“We are grateful to the communities that have received our franchise applications with such enthusiasm, as consumers in these locations will soon have a new choice in providers,” ABB president Frank van der Post said in a press release.  “We look forward to serving these communities by delivering superfast internet, cloud-based TV, and a phenomenal customer experience as we pursue our high-growth plans.”

ABB said the first customer activations are expected in early 2022 and that it will notify local residents as construction is completed throughout the year in each area. The company said once the fiber builds are complete, residential and business customers will receive ultra-high speed internet service, a “WiFi Your Way” managed WiFi service that expands coverage throughout the home; an IPTV video service; unlimited wireline phone service, and business class communications with internet speeds of up to 10 Gigabits per second, hosted voice, 4G Backup, and advanced fiber services.

In the city of Somersworth, which approved ABB’s franchise in June, city economic development manager Robin Comstock said the “community benefits when there are good choices of providers and services. The state-of-the-art fiber infrastructure will provide a new option for residential and business members of our community, help drive economic vitality and keep us ahead of the technological curve.”

Atlantic Broadband is part of Canadian telecom service provider Cogeco Communications, and in September snapped up WideOpenWest properties in Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio that added about 690,000 homes-passed to its footprint for about $1.125 billion. ■

Atlantic Broadband said it completed the purchase of a system in Springfield, W. Va., from Comcast on Feb. 15. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

In a press release, Atlantic Broadband said it would work to both upgrade and integrate the former Comcast system into its existing infrastructure in Hampshire County, W. Va., in the coming months.

“We have had a long commitment to bringing advanced telecommunications services, including broadband internet, to historically underserved areas,” Atlantic Broadband SVP and general manager Curt Kosko said in a press release. “Until now, residents and businesses here have been restricted to a limited package of video channels, with no broadband internet or phone. As a result of this acquisition, the Springfield community will soon enjoy the very best video, internet and phone services available, all delivered over an advanced, fiber-rich network.”

Related: Greener Pastures

Atlantic Broadband will be reaching out to homes and businesses in the community in the weeks ahead to share information about the company’s plans to upgrade the services, as well as the options available for residential and business customers. 

The president-elect has pledged a trillion-dollar infrastructure makeover. Broadband buildout backers want to make sure that's a priority of that effort.

In a letter to Donald Trump, Sen. Shelley Capito (R-W. Va.) asked that broadband deployment be a "core component." Capito pointed out that as many as 74% of the residents of her state lack what she called "proper access" to broadband services.

Capito pointed to an FCC study that found that 56% of West Virginia resident don't have access to broadband services that meet its benchmark speeds; that number is as high as 74% in rural parts of the state.

“West Virginia needs to grow and diversify its overall economy, and Iinternet access is fundamental to that transition," Capito said. "It is essential that all communities have access to Internet platforms that will help them connect and compete on a global scale. Small, rural communities across my state lack this fundamental infrastructure – and lack access to vital opportunities as a result."

Capito suggested that deregulation and increased accountability were the way to go, including "reducing barriers to investment in infrastructure, streamlining the regulatory environment for wireless providers, encouraging public-private partnerships, and ensuring accountability on behalf of the taxpayer for federally funded projects."

Asked about Capito's request on a press call with the Trump transition team Monday, a Trump transition team spokesperson did not talk specifics, but told Multichannel News that "broadband is obviously very important, and I would assume that that will be something that the president-elect will be addressing as we start talking about the nation's infrastructure needs after he is sworn in next month."

The spokesman, calling it the "social media stat of the day," pointed out that the president-elect's Facebook posts from the Army-Navy game resulted in more than 1 million likes.