Monterey, Massachusetts is pulling out of a four-town broadband agreement with the state. The town instead will work with a local company that is not supported by state funds to bring internet to residents.
Monterey dropped Frontier Communications, which was vetted and granted funds by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute to build and operate a fiber-optic network for several towns in southern Berkshire County.
The town wants a Monterey-based company, Fiber Connect, instead. Last month, the state said it would not give Monterey its share of the grant broadband money if it went with the disqualified company.
Fiber Connect is already in the process of building a network in town using its own capital – about $1.5 million to connect 70 percent of the town.
Monterey wants to use $1.1 million of state funds to connect the remaining 30 percent.