Page 36 - BusinessWest September 2, 2024

Broadband
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, 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, com- munity 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 typi- cally 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 broad- band 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 pro- viders and the MBI to learn
>>Continued from page 34
“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
2023 GIVIN
age 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 con- sultants 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 Devel- opment 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
“We have completed five broadband expansion projects in partnership with the MBI, connecting more than 3,000 homes and businesses since 2018.”
more about existing network availability and reliability. The town will also focus on
Broadband
Continued on page 37
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CAROLYNE HANNAN
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