REVERE — There’s a new choice for broadband and entertainment services in the city, and Mayor Brian Arrigo hopes bringing in competition will be good for the city’s economy.
Arrigo announced Tuesday that Revere residents and businesses finally have another choice for their internet, cable and telephone service now that RCN has launched services in the city.
In addition to Comcast Xfinity, RCN is now available to about 3,000 residences in Revere, he said.
“One thing that I heard from the beginning of my tenure in City Hall in the mayor’s office was a call for competition,” said Arrigo.
RCN is bringing its fiber network with high speed internet for residents and businesses alike which will help ensure economic vitality and innovation, said Arrigo. The company has been installing the fiber network over the past few months and is now serving customers. Over the next several months, the company plans to provide service for up to 2,000 additional potential customers each month.
“Our award-winning high speed internet, digital TV and phone service are second to none,” said Jeff Carlson, senior vice president and general manager of RCN Boston. “RCN is also committed to becoming part of the Revere community by building an exclusive fiber infrastructure for municipal use.”
As part of the cable license agreement, RCN is constructing an advanced fiber institutional network for the city’s exclusive use that will connect schools and municipal buildings and be used for certain public safety communications.
This will fill the city’s needs for video and data distribution long into the future, said Arrigo. RCN will also provide three high-definition channels for public, educational and governmental programming.
Bringing a new cable provider to the city was a top campaign promise of the mayor.
“Revere has waited a long time for competition in our cable market,” said Arrigo. “RCN’s arrival in Revere culminates a courtship that we expect will improve both cable television and related services available to Revere residents. Believe it or not, it’s one of the most common questions I’ve fielded at City Hall: why doesn’t Revere have more choice in service? Now, we do.”
RCN is in the process of installing its fiber network throughout the city and as more service is added and available every day, the service is expected to be city-wide over the next several months.
