I write to follow up my earlier letter, in the October issue. Residents of Northwest Connecticut and specifically Norfolk could soon have a legitimate option for better, faster Internet without the multimillion dollar, 40-year commitment being presented by the NW ConneCT committee. As the pandemic has highlighted the need for improved Internet capability across our country, hi-tech companies such as Inseego have been hard at work perfecting solutions with “warp speed” programs of their own. In a recent press release (for the full text, go to https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201216005375/en/).

Inseego  unveiled new 5G fixed wireless access system called the Wavemaker series which they claim “has solved the decades-long ‘last mile’ broadband access problem” and has “delivered for the first time ever a wireless solution that offers the same or better performance as fiber optic or coax cable connections.” A third-party equity research firm stated on Dec. 18, 2020: “The Wavemaker FG2000 5G indoor router provides best-in-class connectivity. In addition to 5G, it delivers robust Wi-Fi 6 and Ethernet connectivity to meet any home or business need. . . . . The fixed wireless solution provides fast broadband access on U.S. Cellular’s 600 MHz 5G network to homes and businesses.”

Although U.S. Cellular is not available in our area, it is just a matter of time for this technology to become available with other carriers, including Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. I assume companies like Comcast, Frontier, Optimum and other large cable carriers will not be far behind, since they know where consumer needs lie and will need to provide similar technology to remain competitive. At present, Comcast boasts having 20-plus million hotspots nationwide, so having this type of technology in their portfolio would only enhance their bottom line. Verizon “has announced it has been building its 5G Ultra Wideband network to enable 5G innovations that will support the changing behavior of businesses and consumers” (including in parts of Connecticut). 


Covid-19 has led most states, cities and towns to realize that more enhanced internet capability is a necessity for personal and business use across America. In coming to this realization, the $900B-plus stimulus package Congress recently approved contains $7B-plus for Internet-related items, so I would imagine technology research from companies like Inseego, Verizon, Marvell Technologies et al. are just scratching the surface of what is yet to come. 

I ask Mr. Riiska, the NW ConneCT team, the Board of Finance and the residents of Norfolk to step back and determine what is best, not just for today but for the future of our town. Is committing to a 40-year plan and millions of dollars the best long-term solution for Norfolk when technology has already surpassed what optical fiber offers? America has been saying for many months now, follow the science. Airwave technology is the science—not stringing lines across telephone poles like we’ve been doing for 165 years. We talk about enhancing our Internet capabilities to attract residents and business owners and to better our schools. Does Norfolk want to be a leader in technology or become just another dinosaur (albeit a much poorer dinosaur) in the years to come?

Lee Fish