Southwick Risks Taxpayer Money on Uncertain Fiber-Optic Network Demand

October 5, 2024 - Southwick is considering a $15 million bond to fund a municipal fiber-optic network, pending a survey to assess demand. However, the financial viability of this project is highly uncertain, requiring at least 50% of potential customers to subscribe to break even. Failure to achieve this take rate would result in a significant financial burden on all town taxpayers, subsidizing a service that may not even be universally utilized. This raises serious concerns about the prioritization of municipal funds towards a risky and potentially unwarranted project.