Council looks into soliciting
2nd Internet provider

(12/10) The Town Council requested that Town Manager Sean Williams investigate the possibility of obtaining a fiber optic network for residents and town use. Currently only Comcast provides high-speed wired connections within town, but per town code the agreement is nonexclusive which means the town can search around for better pricing and services without penalties..

Williams stated that discussions with Thurmont's Town Manager and legal department revealed the Town has decided, after extensive research, to sign with Glo Fiber. Their contract will be the same as it was with their previous provider, Comcast, and installation is at least a year off. Emmitsburg is also considering signing up with Glo fiber.

Williams asked the Council if they wanted to go with Glo fiber as well or consider other options. Commissioner Mike McNiesh said "shoot for the stars and hope to get Verizon Fios. We need competition to get the best for our residents." He pointed out that the current provider, Comcast, is the only one in town and they have a history of raising rates often and never lowering them.

Commissioner Gary Baker was curious to know what the required percentage of customer participation would need to be for a provider such as Verizon to come into town.

Williams was unable to provide an exact answer however he speculated that Verizon could possibly have enough interest already to begin looking into providing service to the Walkersville area. He also pointed out that installation of the necessary equipment can take up to a year and during that period there would be plenty of time for the word to get out in other nearby areas which would further provide Verizon with a reason to expand into town.

Commissioner Betsey Whitmore Brannen asked if there was any benefit to asking for local business’s involvement. "I know the Sheetz app is always down and their gas pumps run off internet and they are always having issues." A Sheetz employee told Brannen that she has Verizon and lives in the Discovery community south of town. "If they can get Verizon, why can’t we?" she said. [Brannen however, did not specify if the resident had standard Internet service of Fios.]

Williams said he would make some phone calls and investigate obtaining a better provider. In the meantime, Williams said residents can contact Verizon themselves to show their interest in getting them to expand their Fios service, which may help expedite the process to faster speeds.