The short answer: fiber is fast. An optical fiber can carry up to 10,000 more data than an electrical wire can of the same size. As a subscriber, this means that a fiber network can offer you faster speeds in a way that is much less sensitive to congestion (for example, your neighbors all streaming at once). And while traditional cable services offer much slower speeds when uploading, fiber networks offer the same speed uploading as when downloading.

For the town, a fiber network brings many benefits, too. Our proposal is for what's known as a "passive" optical network, which means that there are no electronics between the Network Equipment Hut and your house. Because fiber cabling is capable of such massive speeds, our network can be upgraded to meet future needs without modifying the cable itself — only the components at the ends of the cabling. As a consequence, we expect this investment to require much lower maintenance than a traditional electrical network and to last decades.

No. 5G is a wireless cellular communication standard. Fiber-optic networks transmit data using light that travels through super-thin cables.

Speed is important for a couple of reasons:

1. The number of connected devices. Each device that connects to the internet draws a little bit of your overall bandwidth. Today we have more than just our computers connecting to the internet, we have smartphones, tablets, gaming systems, smart tvs, smart appliances, alarm and camera systems, and other smart home devices. Each one of those devices is drawing from your total subscribed speed. The FCC defines "broadband" speeds as at least 25 Mbps download and 3Mbps upload. However, the number of devices using that 25Mbps should not exceed four (4).

2. How the internet is used. Basic use of the internet for activities such as email or browsing the web take use only a little bit of your bandwidth, but if you stream shows and movies you must have more speed. The speed requirement gets even higher for activities such as gaming or uploading videos.

Comcast has a quick guide on how to determine the amount of speed you might need in your home here - https://www.xfinity.com/learn/internet-service#hsdhelpmedecide

Yes, you can still watch TV without traditional TV service. All you need is an internet connection, a streaming device and a subscription to a streaming service. See the short video above explaining the options.

Streaming devices come in many forms. These are just a few:

• Smart TVs - newer models of smart tvs include a variety of apps for accessing streaming services.

• Amazon Firestick, Roku, Apple TV, to name a few

• Laptop Computer

Streaming Services - There are many services offering different types of programming. First decide what it is you want to watch — popular tv shows, local news, movies, sports, etc. Then search for the streaming service(s) that will provide that programming.

No. If you like what you have, you can keep it.

The current plan assumes the town will cover the cost of connecting to homes that are within 500 feet of a right-of-way. For those with longer driveways, there are options to consider about how the town might be able to help pay for the longer connection. Perhaps the homeowner could pay a higher monthly fee for service until the extra construction costs are repaid. Other options are also under discussion.

Network construction would only begin after the majority of residents vote to approve it at a Town Meeting. To further confirm there is sufficient demand, Sharon is considering asking interested residents for a $50 deposit before construction begins. That money could be put into a special account and not touched until it can be credited against the household’s first monthly bill for service. It will be refunded if the network is not built.

The town could create a new body like the Sewer & Water Commission, which is managed day-to-day by a part-time employee and overseen by a board of volunteers appointed by the Board of Selectmen. The town could contract with a private firm or firms to build, operate and manage the network, including handling customer orders and service. The new commission could oversee the contractors and evaluate their work.

Local towns in the Northwest Corner have talked about a region-wide fiber-optic network promoted by the advocacy group Northwest ConneCT, but no town has yet built its own fiber-optic network. Other towns in the region have task forces like ours and are exploring options, although none except Torrington (which has different issues) has done an engineering feasibility analysis of building their own networks. Towns including Cornwall, Goshen and Litchfield that are served by Altice/Optimum cable internet have been informed that Altice is adding more fiber to their connections to improve their services, so they are awaiting more news on that front. Towns in Western Massachusetts are actively building fiber-to-the-premises networks, supported by state subsidies. Towns like South Hadley MA and Westfield MA, which have Comcast cable internet like Sharon does, have built their own town-owned fiber networks and are enjoying take rates of more than 35%. Meanwhile, New York State subsidies to internet providers have supported building fiber networks in some places, but for a few towns that already have a cable internet provider, the projects have struggled with getting take rates higher than 20%.

The “take rate” refers to the percentage of homes that actually subscribe to the internet service available on wires that pass their homes. The town-owned network Sharon is considering would break even on annual expenses once the “take rate” reaches 33% of homes passed, assuming each household pays its $89/month subscription cost. After the 33% take rate is reached, the subscription fees will more than cover annual operating expenses, allowing the town to consider options for how it wishes to use that money.