ROYALSTON—On Jan. 20, the Select Board received an update on Charter’s work to bring high-speed internet and cable services to Royalston. For several months, Charter has been in the “make-ready” stage of this project, which involves securing pole permits from National Grid and Verizon. Once secured, Charter will be able to install fiber on poles throughout the town.

Director of Government Affairs for Massachusetts John Maher reports that Charter has completed the fiber installation along Athol-Richmond Road and is ready to launch services to 54 addresses from house #2 up to #400. These addresses are unique because Charter had existing pole permits on this street. Charter will do direct door-to-door marketing to these homes very soon.

Charter is still working with National Grid and Verizon to secure the pole permits needed for the rest of the town. Maher reports that their construction crews are hopeful they will have these pole permits done by the second quarter of 2023, which would be sometime in May or June. Once these permits are completed, Charter will be able to start construction to the rest of the town.

Connections will continue on a “rolling” basis, that is, services will launch as soon as a section of town is completed. The company has one year from when the make-ready work is complete to connect the rest of the town. Reach out to the Select Board with questions via email (bos@royalston-ma.gov) or by phone at 978-249-9641.

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