Massachusetts Broadband Institute Continues to Narrow Digital Divide

Connecting Communities

It’s all about connecting communities, Comcast says — and public-private partnerships that continue to bear fruit in closing the digital divide.

Comcast recently submitted 91 applications in the second round of the Broadband Infrastructure Gap Networks Grant Program, administered by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI), a program that funds the deployment of high-speed broadband to unserved or underserved locations in Massachusetts.

“Comcast has a proven track record of connecting residents and businesses in the Commonwealth to reliable and fast internet service, and we look forward to partnering with MBI to further expand the Xfinity network to fully connect local communities,” said Carolyne Hannan, senior vice president of Comcast’s New England Region.

“We have completed five broadband expansion projects in partnership with the MBI, connecting more than 3,000 homes and businesses since 2018,” she added. “Endorsement by the MBI of the applications would build on the successful public-private partnership.”

Throughout Massachusetts, Comcast has invested almost $909 million over the last three years in private capital to build, maintain, and operate its Xfinity network. The company notes that this investment has enabled it to expand its network capabilities and stay ahead of consumer demand, as the need for fast, reliable, and secure internet continues to grow.

Meanwhile, public-private partnership models, like MBI’s grant program, are necessary to reach locations where the economics prevent private investment alone. The company has already received more than 140 letters of support from communities across the state for the applications.

Carolyne Hannan

“We have completed five broadband expansion projects in partnership with the MBI, connecting more than 3,000 homes and businesses since 2018.”

“Comcast wants to serve as many customers as is geographically and economically feasible,” the company told BusinessWest. “As we continue to evaluate these opportunities for network expansions, especially in rural areas where there can be significant infrastructure challenges, we partner with municipalities and groups like the Massachusetts Broadband Institute for grants that help change the economics to expand in the most cost-efficient manner.”

Through the first round of the Broadband Infrastructure Gap Networks Program, Comcast was awarded grants to connect unserved and underserved residents in Monson, Palmer, and Ware, as well as communities in Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Additionally, it has expanded its network in partnership with the MBI in Western Mass., connecting previously unserved homes and businesses.

It completed its first public-private partnership with the MBI in 2018, enabling the launch of gigabit services in nine Western Mass. towns, bringing Buckland, Conway, Chester, Hardwick, Huntington, Montague, Northfield, Pelham, and Shelburne to the MBI’s overall coverage goal of 96% or above. Since then, Comcast has completed four ‘last mile’ projects in Middlefield, Montgomery, Tolland, and Worthington.

Seeking Equity

Among the Massachusetts Broadband Institute’s other initiatives is its Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program, which provides municipalities with free strategic planning from pre-qualified consultants to help determine the main impediments to internet access and focus on solutions to bridge the existing digital divide, while tackling issues around affordability, digital-literacy training, device access, and other barriers.

“Massachusetts continues to lead the nation in addressing the digital divide, empowering municipalities statewide with vital resources to enhance accessibility and education,” Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao said earlier this year in announcing that 16 more cities and towns joined the program.

“This program will enable more municipalities to empower their residents, providing not only internet access, but also with the necessary training, devices, and expertise to compete in the digital economy. As commerce, job opportunities, and essential resources shift online, ensuring robust connections is crucial for residents to excel now and in the future.”

Michael Baldino

“Alongside our planning partners, we are excited to provide these communities with the support to help connect with their residents, to ask the right questions, and to receive data-driven results that will enable them to get the right mix of support to their residents.”

Michael Baldino, director of the MBI, added that, “alongside our planning partners, we are excited to provide these communities with the support to help connect with their residents, to ask the right questions, and to receive data-driven results that will enable them to get the right mix of support to their residents.”

There are now 78 municipalities participating in the Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program, a $145 million initiative launched last October. The latest round of 16 includes Springfield, as well as Hampden, Leverett, Otis, Shutesbury, and Westhampton.

The projects vary in scope. Springfield is building on the work done by its City Council’s digital equity subcommittee and interest from residents. The city acknowledges several barriers to digital equity, including equitable access to devices and skills, and intends on using surveys, public meetings, data collection, mailings, community events, tabling in public spaces, and interviews to uncover the reasons for these barriers. Working with consultants to build a digital-equity plan, Springfield aims to establish a coordinated, focused process.

Meanwhile, the town of Otis will spearheard several planning activities through its Municipal Light Plant to expand and improve digital equity. The municipality has previously installed a fiber-to-the-home network, but some seniors and students are unable to access it due to lack of training and equipment. In order to solve this, the town will conduct outreach to residents who are not typically involved in public meetings or do not respond to surveys.

And in Westhampton, the town’s 2022 master plan survey found that 92% of respondents noted the importance of reliable broadband for functioning city services (including emergency response) and to maintain the local economy. So Westhampton is prioritizing reliable access to high-speed internet by working with service providers and the MBI to learn more about existing network availability and reliability. The town will also focus on distributing devices, expanding literacy, and creating financial resources to help last-mile neighborhoods and remote locations.

In short, the MBI’s Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program aims to accomplish two goals: to guide municipal decision making and investments that will increase access, adoption, and usage of the internet, and also to prepare municipalities to submit grant proposals to state or federal programs to support digital equity activities.

Into the Future

Meanwhile, private-sector efforts to connect communities continue. Comcast recently announced higher upload and download speeds are now available to all customers in Holyoke, Longmeadow, West Springfield, and Westfield. In addition, work is nearly complete to provide these faster speeds to all customers in Southwick and Springfield, with the vast majority of those customers already experiencing these faster speeds.

“Modern networks require constant investment and innovation to remain resilient, secure, and future-ready,” the company noted. “The need for fast, reliable, and secure Internet will continue to grow, and Comcast is ensuring customers can stream, surf, and share on a network and service they can rely on today and in the future.”