BARNSTABLE, MA / FALMOUTH, MA – OpenCape, the region’s only 100% fiber optic network, has appointed Aimee Iannotti, Senior Manager of M&A Tax, RSM US LLP, to its Board of Directors. Aimee leads the US inbound practice, focusing on foreign based large-and midsized companies with operations and/or aspirations in the US. She assists companies and private equity groups with buy-and sell-side tax diligence and advisory services. This includes structuring assistance and tax technical analysis in M&A related areas such as purchase price allocations, step-up analyses, and incremental tax cost calculations. According to Jenn Brann, Vice President, Business Operations at OpenCape, “Aimee has been an instrumental member of OpenCape’s Finance Committee for the past year and we are delighted to elevate her involvement by welcoming her to the Board of Directors. Her financial expertise, experience, active participation, and feedback is crucial for the organization’s advancement.” Aimee is excited about participating on the Board of Directors for OpenCape, “I am thrilled to be a part of an organization with a mission to connect our community and improve people’s lives. It’s an honor to advise and keep people thriving and collaborating on Cape Cod through the advancement of internet with OpenCape’s fiber optic network,” she said Aimee resides in Falmouth with her husband, two daughters, step-daughter, and pup Ruby. Aimee spends most days juggling work and her daughters’ various sporting events between dance, gymnastics, softball, basketball, and soccer. Summer weekends are always filled with time at the beach and boat days.

In a significant stride towards a more digitally connected community, the Town of Barnstable Planning & Development Department has granted $297,000 in Community Development Block Funds (CDBG) to OpenCape. This dynamic non-profit is a trailblazer in delivering high-speed fiber optic infrastructure to Cape Cod. The awarded grant will power an inventive project centered on dismantling digital disparities in downtown Hyannis, ushering in affordable, cutting-edge internet connectivity for underserved neighborhoods. Project Unveiling: The initiative unfolds as OpenCape extends its 100% fiber infrastructure into strategic areas, with a special focus on uplifting Low to Moderate Income (LMI) households and businesses. The primary mission is to erase the one-time connection cost hurdle and offer budget-friendly monthly plans, unlocking robust, reliable, and accessible internet access. This transformative step holds promise for enhancing remote education, enabling remote employment, facilitating telehealth, and fostering overall community development. Expanding Horizons: The project's footprint strategically navigates throughout downtown Hyannis and this expansion promises direct impact on approximately 355 locations, encompassing 98 residential addresses, 169 bustling commercial spaces, 13 vacant storefronts, and 75 multi-dwelling units contained within the Massachusetts 2020 Environmental Justice Block and centers on individuals and businesses within the Low to Moderate Income (LMI) category in this project area. By prioritizing those facing economic challenges, the project ensures equitable access to affordable and top-tier internet services. Elizabeth Jenkins, Director of the Town of Barnstable Planning & Development Department expressed: "We are thrilled to support OpenCape's initiative in bridging the digital divide within our Environmental Justice community. This CBDG investment aligns with our commitment to ensuring equitable access to essential services and fostering community sustainability. By expanding high-quality internet infrastructure into underserved areas and making it affordable, we promote digital inclusion and create new potential within the EJ and TDI Zones for education, work, healthcare, and families to thrive.” Steve Johnston, CEO and Executive Director of OpenCape described the partnership with Barnstable: "OpenCape extends sincere appreciation to the Town of Barnstable Planning & Development Department for their steadfast support. This grant fuels our mission to create a resilient and connected community, especially within the Environmental Justice zone. The investment enables us to expand high-speed fiber infrastructure, promoting digital inclusivity and innovation. We're eager to leverage this opportunity, bringing robust, reliable connectivity to downtown Hyannis and empowering residents and businesses in the heart of the Environmental Justice zone with cutting-edge internet access." The CBDG project goals include the following benchmarks: Digital Inclusion: Direct access to state-of-the-art fiber for LMI residential and business customers, dissolving the one-time connection cost hurdle. Affordable Connectivity: Monthly plans priced at approximately $55 for residential and $80 for small businesses, democratizing robust internet access and substantially outpacing area providers. Community Impact: Creating connectivity hubs at vital community support locations, including the Senior Center, Hyannis Youth and Community Center, YMCA Headstart, the Hyannis Public Library, the HyArts Programming Annex, and others in Barnstable's Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area (NRSA).

Our phone rang off the hook last week with questions from towns, and each conversation was the same. “We have been asked for a letter of support from Comcast and Verizon”, what should we do? For each person, we simply made sure they asked these providers the same questions I would be expected to be asked if OpenCape had made such a request for a letter of support. To begin, let me clear up some facts and details. The maximum amount available to any provider from the MBI Gap Networks Grant Program is $20M. Grant funding requires a 20% match; $20M would fund connectivity to approximately 10,000 homes. The simple questions we asked were: Does this letter of support confirm you will be building in our town? If so, how many homes will you pass? On what streets? What type of service will it be? To date, we have not seen any example of the incumbent providers providing that level of detail or 100% confirmation of such builds. During a regional call with the incumbents and the Cape Cod Tech Council, they seemed to go above and beyond to not provide specifics. To be direct, yes OpenCape applied for a GAP Grant for a Cape town and if awarded we will be further expanding our 1Gig, 5Gig, 10Gig service in that town. You can count on that! – Steve Johnston, CEO & Executive Director, OpenCape

If you are considering rental space at the new residences at Hanover Hyannis (located near BJ’s and Cape Cod Healthcare’s Wilkens Urgent Care Center) rest assured that internet connectivity will be robust and future-focused. OpenCape is providing a 10Gig dedicated fiber circuit to service residents. OpenCape CEO Steve Johnston commented, “Affordable housing is a necessity for our region. Part of that housing solution must be to ensure that every resident and every family, regardless of their economic situation, have access to robust, reliable, and affordable internet service. This is the conduit by which people go to school, work remotely, access healthcare and other benefits. It is a core component of every housing solution, and OpenCape is working tirelessly to ensure every unit built in our region has this access.”

You may have recently noticed an influx in TV, print, email, and radio advertisements from a cryptic, shadowy organization called “Mass Priorities”. While the source of their reported $500,000 ad campaign remains cloudy, it is a safe bet to assume that the incumbent providers who service our region are responsible. I mention it today not to give any credence to their message, but rather to alert people that the sole purpose of this campaign is to confuse and bewilder communities, to have you second guess your instinct when someone is pulling the wool over your eyes. The link to this story addresses many of the details, but I think it is necessary to point out the absurdity of any strategy that promotes confusing customers versus just focusing on providing a great product and amazing customer service. The fact that someone in power thought this was a solid plan demonstrates how little the incumbents think about the role they play in our communities. From my perspective, these dark money campaigns send an incredibly clear signal that the incumbents are terrified of any level of choice or competition, and that is exactly what we will keep doing.

Jenn. who has been with OpenCape since 2018, says that her role and involvement has evolved in response to the organization’s growth and needs. “I started as the Business Office Manager – reorganizing the business, making processes more efficient. Then in 2020, when the Finance Manager retired, I stepped into more of a leadership role as the Senior Manager, Business Operations and developed greater relationships with our customers, community, and vendors to further our mission." A resident of Marston’s Mills, Jenn has run her husband’s drywall business since 2000. “Small businesses have a lot of moving parts. You recognize what needs to be done and there are not endless resources, so you are the one that needs to find the solutions and put them in place.” Steven Johnston, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director said: “Jennifer has been a core part of OpenCape's success over the past few years, her commitment to transparency, efficiency, and innovation has helped OpenCape scale and succeed as we work to bring fast, reliable and affordable fiber internet to everyone in our region.” Even though she didn’t exactly need a college degree at this point in her career, earning one is important to her. In 2022, Jenn earned an Associate’s Degree from Southern New Hampshire University and she’s currently on track to earn her Bachelor’s in Accounting and Business Management. As a Cape Cod native, Jenn is excited about the promotion and the next steps in her continued growth within the organization. “Our business has lots of moving parts," she said. "We are constantly striving to work smarter and use our resources well in comparison to our competitors who have nearly unlimited resources. Our focus is providing a great, reliable, and affordable product and amazing local customer service.”

Are you a restaurant or bar owner? This one's for you... There's a lot going on in your establishment that relies on having a solid internet connection. Sales to ring, security systems to run, and guests who use your WiFi. ARE YOU SURE YOUR CURRENT INTERNET PROVIDER CAN HANDLE SEAMLESS STREAMING, TOO? OpenCape is the solution. Our 100% fiber optic internet is a dramatic upgrade from traditional cable, and streaming is lightning fast. We'll make sure you're always up – and your reputation as the place to go is safeguarded. Think it’s not available or too expensive? Think again. To learn more, contact Damien Johnson at damien@opencape.org or call 508-367-3414.

On August 31, OpenCape and the Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber celebrated the announcement of the fastest, most reliable internet service in Buzzards Bay! OpenCape’s state-of-the-art 10G XGS PON on Main Street Buzzards Bay will provide businesses and nearby residents with secure, resilient fiber connection with unmatchable upload and download speeds, and a reliable connection every time. “OpenCape builds infrastructure to help small businesses thrive. Main Street in Falmouth, Woods Hole, and Hyannis are examples of that success,” noted Marie Oliva, president and CEO of the chamber, which has been an advocate for the project. “Businesses there are no longer affected by our many coastal storms or lack of bandwidth during the Cape’s busy tourist season. Buzzards Bay businesses are now going to be able to count on the same reliability.” “We are listening and responding to towns, business owners, and residents who want a choice in providers and internet service that is reliable, robust and affordable, not just for today but for many years to come. Remember our measure of success isn’t building stock or shareholder value, but rather making sure our businesses and residents have amazing service…it is that simple,” said Steve Johnston, OpenCape CEO. “As a local nonprofit provider, we know it is critical that we help drive our local economy, and create a future-proof network for our region that allows people to be connected and live, work, and play.”

OpenCape 100% Fiber is proud to announce that it has joined Cape Cod Five and Cape Light Compact as one of three sustaining sponsors of the Cape Cod Technology Council, Inc. (CCTC), a membership-based, events-oriented non-profit organization promoting technology and its understanding on Cape Cod, the Islands, and in Southeastern Massachusetts. CCTC’s mission is to communicate, promote, educate, and mentor the advancement of technologies and to aid and abet their advancement and economic viability as well as that of the geographical region in which they reside. OpenCape is committed to advancing internet connections through our 100% Fiber Optic Network to grow, expand and utilize our network to connect municipalities, businesses large and small, community organizations, public safety and residents where possible. We strive to drive innovation and economic growth by supporting efforts to expand broadband connectivity and digital inclusion to improve the quality of life and expand economic opportunity throughout Cape Cod, the Islands and Southeastern Massachusetts. “OpenCape and CCTC are a natural fit. Sponsoring their important work, which includes equal parts economic development, networking, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education and understanding, is a good way to reach our stakeholders and help further the Council’s mission,” said OpenCape CEO and Executive Director, Steven Johnston. Stephen Smith, Executive Director of the CCTC agrees. “OpenCape has long been a major supporter of the Technology Council and its programs. The Council was thrilled that OpenCape has become one of our inaugural Sustaining Sponsors helping us expand member services, outreach and new programming to Cape Cod. This level of support is testament to OpenCape's commitment to the community through the provision of technology and services and we look forward to our continued partnership,” he said. CCTC works to: Support and direction of the development of the technology infrastructure in the region to advance the growth, effectiveness, and competitiveness of its member organizations Assist in technology education for the advancement of its members as well as future generations which will be the workforce and innovators of tomorrow in the region and beyond Participate in state and regional technology organizations and governments as a voice for its members and a liaison on technology to a vital area of Massachusetts. Provide technology presentations, discussions, forums, and other events which keep members abreast of the latest trends, technologies and directions which affect their organizations and operations Smart use of technology is the element that all competitive businesses and organizations share, and is an approach that our entire region is embracing as we move through the 21st century. OpenCape owns, operates and maintains a state-of-the-art 100% fiber optic network that provides reliable and affordable broadband internet access for businesses, healthcare providers, educational institutions and municipalities across Cape Cod, the Islands, Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The Barnstable-based non-profit has launched several residential and Main Street business Fiber internet pilots, including Woods Hole, Falmouth and Hyannis on Cape Cod. Their goal is to foster and support community-led initiatives to drive growth and economic development, as well as meet unserved and underserved communities to help bridge the digital divide.

Thriving Organization’s Growth Allows for Reinvestment in Businesses, Municipalities and Residents OpenCape CEO and Executive Director Steven Johnston announced today that starting April 1, 2023, the organization will be reducing pricing by 10% for select new and renewing business customers. This reduction builds on last year’s price cuts to small business and residential customers in the Falmouth, Woods Hole and Hyannis downtown areas. Johnston explains that the announcement is a testament to OpenCape’s financial strength and continued commitment to placing the needs of the region and its customers first. “The price reduction is made possible because of the success we have seen connecting new customers, and the dedication of our staff to deliver the very best in customer service. Our mission is clear, we want to ensure that businesses and ultimately residents have a choice and can be assured to have access to next-generation connectivity,” he said. At a time when national providers are increasing rates at an alarming rate and limiting service, OpenCape has demonstrated that a non-profit Internet service provider can grow its state-of-the-art fiber network by providing exemplary Internet service and innovation by reinvesting in businesses, municipalities, and residents. “My game is nickels and dimes. We process over 1,000 transactions on a busy summer day. If our Internet goes down, our customers go away upset and unserved and our revenue stream is cut in half instantly. Reliability is key – OpenCape is my choice,” said Erik Gura, former owner of Pie in the Sky bakery in Woods Hole.

Kathleen Power, the Director of Technology for Outer Cape Health Services was hired 9 days before COVID shut down the United States and impacted healthcare operations like nothing ever experienced in the history of modern medicine. In her new position, Kathleen inherited a wonderful, growing nonprofit health center that was beloved by the community. Unfortunately, the organization’s technology was not meeting its capacity needs. The aging technology system Kathleen inherited included a 20-year-old site-based domain controller and bad modem, making her introduction to the new position a baptism by fire. Luckily Outer Cape had hired the right woman for the job. Kathleen came to Outer Cape from Sturgis Charter Schools, where she had been responsible for bringing OpenCape 100% Fiber Optic high-speed internet to the highly-acclaimed school’s 2 campuses and 5 properties in Hyannis. “I worked with OpenCape to launch the service as part of a pilot program, and it was outstanding – both the product itself and the service. In the 7 years that I was there after the installation, we never had another internet outage,” said Kathleen. So naturally as part of her job to make the healthcare organization’s technology more stable and adaptable to moving backend systems and services to the cloud Kathleen brought the 100% Fiber Optic high speed internet to all 4 of Outer Cape’s locations, dramatically expanding bandwidth and its increasingly-important telehealth capacity. According to Outer Cape Health Senior Development & Communications Officer, Gerry Desautels, “Telehealth is still a key component of our practice. We’ve noticed that it has been a particularly effective part of our behavioral healthcare service. There’s a much lower no-show rate now for behavioral healthcare visits.” “COVID shined the light on the impact technology can have on telehealth. Expanding the connectivity for rural healthcare providers like Outer Cape Health Care allows them to serve more people in all areas of care, said Jenn Brann, Sr. Manager of Business Operations at OpenCape. The Rural Healthcare Connected Care pilot program (RHC) allowed them to quadruple their speeds,” she noted. With 4 locations, 3 on the Outer Cape in Wellfleet and Provincetown and 1 including a pharmacy in Harwich Port on the Lower Cape, Outer Cape Health Services is a lifeline for many residents of Cape Cod. They are the only pharmacy and only medical provider located even moderately close by for residents in the towns of Truro, Wellfleet and Eastham. And their Provincetown Urgent Care is the furthest health center from any hospital in the Commonwealth (and also home to its server farm – with 63 servers now!) and those miles are often fraught with extreme New England weather. Kathleen is confident that the weather will not be a problem for internet outages now that OpenCape is on board. “Partnering with OpenCape has improved our capacity to expand and move services to the cloud, including, but not limited to telephones, and our EHR (Electronic Health records),” said Kathleen.

Cape Cod 5 recently invested in OpenCape's 100% Fiber Optic Network. As a community bank serving thousands of customers and community members through both its extensive network of Banking Centers and full-service digital offerings, Cape Cod 5 turned to OpenCape for a reliable, redundant network to ensure continuous connectivity. The state-of-the-art Fiber Optic Network gives OpenCape’s customers peace of mind with secure, resilient fiber connection with unmatchable upload and download speeds. Cape Cod 5 has installed the Network at its headquarters and at 16 of its branches, with more planned for the future. “A reliable high-speed network is critical to our ability to serve customers and community members. We chose to partner with OpenCape to provide redundancy in our operations,” said Matt Burke, Chief Executive Officer of Cape Cod 5. “In addition, we’re proud to support OpenCape’s efforts to bolster network access on the Cape and Islands, which creates a stronger infrastructure powering our local businesses and communities.” According to Steve Johnston, CEO of OpenCape, “Advancing internet connections through our 100% Fiber Optic Network improves quality of life and expands economic opportunity. Every time we make a connection, it extends the fiber deeper into the community. Cape Cod 5 understands that connecting their locations not only makes sense for them, it benefits the region.”