Falmouth Business Gigabit Project
OpenCape Brings Reliable, Affordable Internet to the Main Street Business Communities of Falmouth & Woods Hole
In 2019 the Falmouth EDIC and the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce approached OpenCape on behalf of Falmouth Main Street merchants and businesses who were having consistent difficulties related to unstable internet connectivity that were affecting their ability to effectively operate. OpenCape responded with a proposal for the Falmouth Business Gigabit Project, so called because it would connect businesses to a shared Gigabit of Internet. The initial project was designed for just the downtown Falmouth area, but eventually expanded into Woods Hole, Palmer Avenue, Depot Avenue, Gifford Street and other surrounding areas. OpenCape reports that they are continually working to expand the service areas within Falmouth.
Fifty fortunate businesses were able to take advantage of the “free connection program”; $50,000 in funding used solely for the free installation/connection of the OpenCape fiber-optic internet service. This saved each business owner anywhere between $600 - $1,700 on the installation charges. Though this program funding has been exhausted, OpenCape remains a very cost-effective internet service provider. In March 2022 OpenCape announced that they reduced their service rate to a low $80 per month.
The Falmouth EDIC and OpenCape are delighted with the success of the Falmouth Business Gigabit Project, bringing progressive, stable, reliable and affordable internet connectivity to the Falmouth area businesses.
Grant Opportunity
Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation
Open Cape has partnered with the Cape Cod Young Professional organization who are sponsoring the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation’s “Empower Digital Grant Program”. This is an amazing opportunity which provides grants to qualified businesses up to $5,000 to connect customers to the OpenCape high-speed internet services. If you qualify, CCYP can sponsor you and their small business support team can provide assistance to you in applying for a small business grant!
Grant funding can be used to:
Hire digital service providers to expand your online presence (web designers, social media consultants, etc.).
Purchase equipment, hardware, and/or software related to enhancing your digital capabilities; this can include the one-time installation costs of connecting to high speed internet service.
Contact either the Cape Cod Young Professionals at 508-714-2201 or the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation at 617-523-6262 to learn more about this grant program.
About Open Cape
OpenCape Corporation is a 501c3 nonprofit technology company headquartered in Barnstable Village at the Barnstable County Complex.
OpenCape owns and operates a state-of-the-art 100% Fiber Optic Network built to serve local governments, businesses, and residents of Southeastern MA, Cape Cod and the Islands. Our 100% Fiber Optic Network is on par with the most sophisticated and technically proficient fiber networks in the world; offering service at 1 Gigabit per second, which is up to 1,000 Mbps upload and download speed. It’s the fastest internet you can get in Falmouth and offers plenty of bandwidth to support fledgling start-ups or busy established businesses. OpenCape also offers a variety of internet services as part of our continued focus on advancing the needs and interests of the communities we serve.
Who OpenCape Serves
Broadband services are being provided over the OpenCape 100% Fiber Optic Network to more than 100 institutions, including libraries, government buildings, schools, colleges, hospitals, public safety agencies and research institutions. Businesses that rely on high-speed Internet access and data transfers are choosing OpenCape’s competitive broadband services. Community movements in towns across Cape Cod are paving the way for residential services.
How Customers Use OpenCape
Public safety officials have fiber optic and microwave pathways to ensure essential communications remain available in harsh conditions.
Barnstable, Falmouth, Mashpee, Nauset, Sandwich public schools as well as Monomoy Regional School District, along with Sturgis East & West now have access to reliable, high-speed bandwidth enabling the use of mobile devices and modern online teaching and research tools.
The Town of Falmouth has leveraged this technology to create a comprehensive municipal network of 19 buildings with super-fast connectivity among town buildings and aggregated Internet and voice service.
Barnstable County is delivering services to towns in an efficient and effective model using a regional Wide Area Network created specifically to advance economies of scale and lower Internet access costs.
The Technology Future Is Here
Envision a future where widespread and reliable network coverage is the cornerstone of commerce; when new economic centers and remote offices are developed from Cape Cod to New Bedford to Providence. A future where development will reverse historic commuting patterns as well as advance home monitoring and tele-health applications, allowing seniors to remain in their homes longer by connecting through the network to their healthcare providers. Imagine endless opportunities for students on Cape Cod, the Islands and Southeastern MA to connect with and learn from the most highly regarded educational, scientific and cultural institutions around the world. This is OpenCape.
Sign Up for Service and Referral Program
It’s Easy to Sign Up and to Refer a Customer
Complete the Falmouth Business Gigabit Internet Service Signup Form to sign up yourself or to refer a new customer who wants fast reliable internet.
OpenCape connects your referred customer.
You get a FREE month of internet service credited to your account*.
No limit on the number of referred credits.
*Maximum credit of $500 applied to monthly internet service fee.
Contact OpenCape to learn more about the Referral Program at 508-362-2224 or info@opencape.org .
PRESS RELEASE:
OpenCape Reduces Monthly Internet Rates by Over 31% for Falmouth Main Street Customers
BARNSTABLE, MASS, MARCH 16, 2022 – While residents and businesses across the Commonwealth struggle with rising prices and rates of inflation not seen in decades, OpenCape Corporation, the nonprofit technology company that owns and operates the 100% fiber optic network on the Cape, Islands and Southeastern Massachusetts, recently announced that starting March 1, it will decrease monthly internet service rates for its Main Street customers in Falmouth from $117 to $80 a month.
OpenCape customers on Falmouth’s Main Street are connected to a Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) in which they share a gigabit of service. A loan from MassDevelopment made the buildout of the Falmouth GPON possible, and a strong partnership with Falmouth Economic Development & Industrial Corporation (EDIC) and the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce helped launch the effort. OpenCape committed to reducing rates for customers once the loan was paid off, which happened in January 2022, two years ahead of schedule.
General Questions about OpenCape’s Services
Review their FAQs here.
Contact Information
Contact OpenCape at 508-362-2224 or opencape.org/contact.
Some of OpenCape’s Satisfied Customers
We use OpenCape because our business requires 100% uptime and consistency, and we need a choice in Internet services on Cape Cod.
George, Owner
Corner Cycle
Main Street, Falmouth & Osterville
We use OpenCape for redundancy, strong Wi-Fi capabilities and peace of mind.
Rory & Shea, Sons of Liam Maguire
Liam Maguire’s Irish Pub
Main Street, Falmouth
We use OpenCape because it is a community focused company and we never have to worry about our Internet service.
Reilly, Staff Member
Eight Cousins Bookstore
Main Street, Falmouth
We use OpenCape because we need reliable high-speed Internet at a good price.
Scott, Owner
Ghelfi’s Candies of Cape Cod
Main Street, Falmouth
We use OpenCape because reliable, fast and reasonably priced Internet from a local company is hard to beat.
Alex & Greg, Owners
Aquatic Brewing
Main Street, Falmouth
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