Worcester Business Journal

14 Worcester Business Journal | September 18, 2023 | wbjournal.com Cofounders of Fitchburg Fiber, Tristan Taylor (left) and Andrew DeChristopher with Fitchburg Fiber hardware overlooking Downtown Fitchburg. BY TIMOTHY DOYLE WBJ Staff Writer W alking north on Main Street in Fitchburg, CEO Tristan Taylor and Director of Engineering Andrew DeChristopher point out a small piece of electronic equipment atop a building with a bike shop on the first floor. "at's one of ours," Taylor said. Walking to the end of the Upper Common, they point out another device, a bump on the steeple of the First Parish Unitarian church, barely noticeable, like a misplaced architectural feature. ese small boxes are nodes of a downtown network being built by Taylor, DeChristopher, and Principal Network like a Comcast or Verizon, just much smaller. Because of the company's small size and since it is based in the community it serves, Fitchburg Fiber's founders said the company can more quickly serve its customers in the case of a problem. Enhancing downtown Fitchburg Fiber's technology makes it more agile and able to install and fix service quickly, they said. Contrary to its name, Fitchburg Fiber has not yet laid any fiber optic cable in the ground. It relies on a network of radio transmitters within sight of each other atop buildings around a centralized downtown, making Downtown Fitchburg a near ideal location for the system because of PHOTOS | CHRISTINE PETERSON F O C U S ARCHITECTURE & CONSTRUCTION Making connections A trio of community-minded tech workers are connecting Downtown Fitchburg to a new internet service and are looking beyond Engineer Nick Madden as the founders of Fitchburg Fiber, an internet service provider (ISP) startup. In the near-term, Taylor and DeChristopher said they will bring lower prices and better service to residents and businesses in the city. What they are shooting for in the long term is to change people's entire relationship to the internet in Central Massachusetts and beyond. Access to the internet for most consumers is provided by an ISP, usually a large company like Comcast, Charter Communications, or Verizon. ese are considered Tier 3 providers. Tier 3 providers buy access to the internet from wholesalers, called Tier 2 providers, or from Tier 1 providers, such as the owners of major internet infrastructure like undersea cables. Fitchburg Fiber is a Tier 3 provider the dense layout of buildings. Fitchburg's Director of Economic Development Mary Jo Bohart said Fitchburg Fiber is a welcome addition to the downtown, which has been the focus of revitalization efforts. Bohart met Taylor originally when he was completing his capstone project in the gaming design program at Fitchburg State University. "ere are so many elements that make a downtown come alive, and one we don't talk about is telecommunications," she said. Fitchburg Fiber offering another option for internet service is attractive to new residents, Bohart said. Boston developer Rees-Larkin Development, who in July completed a 44-unit apartment development at 10 Main St. in the city's Moran Square, allowed Fitchburg Fiber to provide access to residents of the building, Taylor said. Local businesses benefit from Fitchburg Fiber's offerings as well, said Bohart. Having a less expensive internet option for businesses makes the area more attractive. e company charges business customers the same as residential customers, about $40 a month for Mary Jo Bohart, Fitchburg's director of economic development

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