WATERTOWN — The Town Council voted to participate in the Connecticut Education Network ConneCT (CEN) program for infrastructure upgrades and expanded internet access capabilities for Town Hall during its Tuesday, February 18, 2025 meeting.

Town Manager Mark Raimo said the town currently uses Frontier at a cost of about $1100 per month, and there are some reliability issues with the service. It is not a fiber optic line.

The vote to participate in CEN followed a brief presentation on CEN and the ConneCT program by Paul Tarsa, CEN Service Manager. Mr. Tarsa explained CEN was established by the state legislature in 2000.

It is governed by the Commission for Education Technology (CET). It provides K-12 school districts, public universities, and participating municipalities and libraries with a fiber option network. It currently includes 750 members, representing an estimated $30 million in cost avoidance, he said.

CEN’s ConneCT program is currently being offered to municipalities, schools and libraries that are not presently connected to a fiber network.

There are 160 eligible entities, who, if approved for the grant of up to $100,000, would have a fiber optic line built to the specified location using the grant money. This is a limited time offer, Mr. Tarsa said, with money coming from state ARPA funds

CEN provides a minimum of 1 gig service, but can also provide 10 gigs or 100 gigs if necessary. Monthly fees are determined by the level of service being used, The lowest level of bandwidth service is presently priced at $123 monthly, plus a $35 maintenance fee.

The next highest level costs $440 per month, with a $35 maintenance fee. That is the level Mr. Tarsa feels Watertown would use in Town Hall. If the town decided to build out to other municipal locations, those locations would likely use the lower level, but grant funding may or may not be available for fiber connections depending on how many other municipalities choose to sign up under this arrangement.

Town Manager Mark Raimo said the commitment would be for 20 years. The Board of Education has been using CEN for several years and is happy with the service.

During public participation, State Rep. Joseph Polletta updated the council on his intention to try and gather support from other legislators to reverse PA 24-1, a public act that was signed into law last summer. That act provided that motor vehicles would be assessed and taxed at 85% value, rather than the previous rate of 90%.

He said he was one of the legislators who voted against PA 24-1 when it came to a vote, and he is concerned that towns such as Watertown may be losing up to $1 million in taxes on motor vehicles as a result.

PA 24-1 does not impact some municipalities in the same way, as there is still a cap on taxing motor vehicles, set at 32.46. The impact comes when a town’s mill rate is lower than the cap, as does Watertown’s.

Then, vehicles are taxed at the same rate as real estate, and now at the 85% assessment as opposed to the previous 90%.

In other action, the council agreed to have the town participate in the Regional Natural Hazard Mitigation Planning Grant Program through a partnership with the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments.

The town’s cash match amount is $5,300, with $2,632 committed to be funded in both the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years.

The council agreed to apply for a 2025 Connecticut STEAP Grant in an amount up to $1 million for the HVAC system replacement and generator for the police department. The council also agreed to fund the town’s share of the work at $142,325.72.

The council approved the appropriation of $1,136.16 from the General Fund into the Police Overtime Account, with those funds coming from the department’s participation in Homeland Security activities.

The council also appropriated $963.84 from the General Fund into the Police Overtime Account, with those funds received from the State of Connecticut DOT for Click-It-Or-Ticket enforcement.

 

 

CEN Announces Public Review of Program Guidance for $10M Community Wireless (Wi-Fi) Grant Program

Hartford, CT—The Connecticut Education Network (CEN) is pleased to announce that the $10M Community Wireless (Wi-Fi) Grant Program Guidance is now available for public review and comment.

Public Participation and Comment Period

CEN values the input of its communities and stakeholders. The public review period provides an opportunity for feedback and suggestions that can help refine and improve the final program guidelines. Interested parties are encouraged to review the document in detail and submit their comments.

About the Community WiFi Program

The Community Wi-Fi program is a $10 million competitive reimbursement subgrant under the CEN Broadband Infrastructure Program, funded by the ARPA Capital Project Fund and supported by Governor Lamont’s Connecticut’s Plan for the American Rescue Plan of 2021. The program enhances internet infrastructure for work, education, health, and wellness. By leveraging the CEN infrastructure platform, the program will expand high-quality, secure, 802.11-based wireless internet access through community anchor institutions (CAIs) across Connecticut, with a focus on underserved and economically disadvantaged communities. The program also promotes the adoption of eduroam®, a global platform for secure, authenticated Wi-Fi access, further extending connectivity and support to users across institutions.  Any CAI can apply for grant funds to attach to CEN and expand high-quality and secure WiFi in their communities.  

The Program Guidance outlines critical information for applicants including eligibility criteria, application procedures, and project requirements. Key sections of the guidance cover technical specifications, risk mitigation, community impact, and sustainability plans ensuring that proposed projects not only meet current needs but are also viable in the long term.

How to Access the Program Guidance and Submit Comments:

• The Program Guidance can be accessed via the CEN website at https://ctedunet.net/cwifi/
• Comments can be submitted via the CEN website or at cenwifigrant@cteducation.net
• The deadline for submitting comments is 1/24/2025

About The Connecticut Education Network (CEN):

CEN is Connecticut’s premier open-access, high-capacity internet, cloud, cybersecurity, and network services provider. A mission-driven, member-focused organization, CEN operates a statewide, high-performance broadband infrastructure platform that delivers reliable, ultra-low latency, high-speed internet, and advanced technology services to community anchor institutions. Established in 2000, CEN has been a leader in advancing the capabilities of its members, ensuring equitable access to secure and dependable connectivity that supports education, research, government, digital citizenry, aggregation, and collaboration. Known for its exceptional value, performance, and personalized service, CEN is the provider of choice for organizations that demand top-tier network performance, cybersecurity, and a commitment to bridging the digital divide.

"Public input is critical to ensuring that the CEN remains responsive to the needs and concerns of our communities,” Department of Administrative Services Commissioner Michelle Gilman said. “We value every voice in this dialogue, as it helps to shape policies and initiatives that truly reflect the priorities of the people we serve. I encourage individuals and organizations to review the program guidance and offer feedback." 

‘The Community Wireless (Wi-Fi) Grant program is part of CEN’s ongoing efforts to close the digital divide and ensure equitable access to high quality broadband and the internet for our citizens.’ said Ryan Kocsondy, Executive Director of CEN. ‘ We are proud to play a role in furthering digital equity and happily seek input in this new grant program.’

For more information about the Community Wireless (Wi-Fi) Grant and other CEN initiatives, please visit https://ctedunet.net/cwifi/, attend one of our info sessions, or contact us at cenwifigrant@cteducation.net.