Consumers in 9 More Western Mass. Towns Now Have High-Speed Access to the Internet

Verizon Launches Broadband Service in More New Communities.

BLANDFORD, Mass. - Consumers and businesses in nine more western Massachusetts communities now have access to the Internet - at rocket speeds powered by Verizon.

Starting Wednesday (Aug. 27), Verizon High Speed Internet service is being offered throughout Blandford, Becket, Cummington, Goshen, Middlefield, New Marlborough, Sandisfield, Tolland and Washington.

Earlier this month, Verizon introduced the service in Florida, Mass. These are among 24 western Massachusetts communities where Verizon is making broadband Internet service available for the first time.

The service will give Internet users the ability to download at speeds of 768 Kbps (kilobits per second), 21 times faster than the current dial-up capability.

“We are proud to be able to bring the benefits of broadband Internet service to consumers in these seven new communities today and soon to thousands more consumers in western Massachusetts,” said Donna C. Cupelo, Verizon region president for Massachusetts and Rhode Island. “Verizon’s investments in Massachusetts have and will continue to be a major contributor to growing the state’s economy.”

Earlier this year, Verizon announced it is investing $200 million to expand its network in Massachusetts, including bringing its High Speed Internet service to the 24 western Massachusetts communities.

By year’s end, Cupelo said, Verizon expects to also make the service available in Colrain, Hancock, Heath, Leverett, Leyden, Monroe, Montgomery, New Ashford, Pelham, Plainfield, Rowe, Westhampton, Windsor and Worthington, and to make the service more widely available in Shutesbury.

The company will notify potential customers of the availability of the service in a number of ways, including direct mail, media advertising and contact with local officials in each community. Consumers can also visit www.verizon.com/ma for additional information.

When the work is completed, Verizon expects High Speed Internet service will be available to 70 percent of the company’s customer lines, on average, in the 24 towns. The new broadband deployment of Verizon’s High Speed Internet network will reach three-fourths of the western Massachusetts communities identified by the state as having no high speed broadband services.

Prices for Verizon High Speed Internet service start at $19.99 per month.

The service is delivered on a dedicated line from Verizon’s central office to the customer’s home and is backed by live, 24 x 7 customer service and technical support. High Speed Internet subscribers have access to an extensive collection of features and services, including online protection with Verizon Internet Security Suite; Verizon Enhanced E-mail; Verizon Premium Tech Support; Online gaming, free news from ABC News Now; free sports from ESPN360; and more.