Hancock residents will be able to receive high-speed fiber-optic internet service later this year from Fidium, the fiber-optic branch of Consolidated Communications. Inc. (CCI), which are planing on expanding its coverage into the town.

According to Hancock Telecommunications Committee Chair Mollie Miller, CCI is nearly done with the pre-construction phase, and expects to begin build-out on or before May 15.

Miller came before the Select Board Monday to set up a meeting between the Fidium project manager and a board representative, alongside Police Chief Thomas Horne and the Hancock Department of Public Works (DPW), “to coordinate – to make everybody’s on the same page [about] the build-out,” Miller said.

The meeting would help open communication between town officials and Fidium, allowing them to coordinate how best to execute the planned expansion. It will not be open to the public, but Fidium and town officials will hold a public hearing shortly before the company begins residential installs, according to Miller. The hearing will allow residents to ask questions or voice specific concerns about the residential installation process.

Miller explained that Fidium’s build-out process will consist of three phases: stringing the fiber optic wire onto existing telephone poles, which takes about six weeks; splicing the lines together, which takes about six to eight weeks; and finally testing the lines to ensure the connection.

Once the build-out process is completed, Fidium will begin residential installations, which takes about one to two months.

In total, the process will take anywhere from three to five months, according to the Fidium representative who Miller spoke to.

Miller noted that crews from competing company Comcast had also recently stated approaching residents about potentially installing fiber-optic cable in the area, and there was some confusion over the services both companies are offering.

According to Miller, Fidium offers fiber-optic lines directly to residences. While Comcast’s infrastructure is fiber-optic, the lines to residences are still traditional copper with a coaxial connection, which is less effective than a direct fiber-optic line. Miller added that the prices for both services were about the same.

Hancock is part of the second wave of fiber-optic expansion sponsored by a $40,000 federal grant. Part of this grant allows Fidium to provide direct fiber-optic internet access to town-owned buildings, such as the transfer station, free of charge.

“It’s going to be a real game-changer,” Miller said.