man working on fiber poles and wooden wheel of fiber wires

The Gap Networks Grant Program funds the deployment of broadband infrastructure in areas that currently lack broadband service. The program aims to expand access and connectivity in unserved and underserved locations throughout the Commonwealth to bridge the digital divide. Specifically, the program provides funding for the deployment of broadband infrastructure in areas currently lacking access to sufficient broadband internet service, defined as service offering download speeds of at least 100 Mbps and upload speeds of at least 20 Mbps.

While prior investment of public funds have substantially reduced the number of unserved and underserved locations remaining in Massachusetts, there are still pockets of locations throughout the state that lack access to reliable and affordable broadband service. This program is intended to address those remaining gaps in broadband availability.

Projects funded through this Program must be designed to deliver broadband service that meets or exceeds 100 Mbps symmetrical speeds. Locations that were covered through a binding funding commitment from other federal or state funding sources are not eligible for funding under this program. Grant recipients were required to provide a minimum matching contribution of at least 20%, subject to limited waivers for certain municipally-owned broadband infrastructure projects. 

The grant selection process more favorably scored these projects in economically challenged areas, specifically Gateway municipalities and those areas identified by HUD's Qualified Census Tract program. 

No future rounds are planned for the Gap Networks Grant Program, and all former rounds of the program have closed.

Grant Awards

 

Grant RecipientCommunities CoveredGrant Amount

 

Comcast

Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown, Monson, Nantucket, Oak Bluffs, Palmer, Tisbury, Ware, West Tisbury

 

$2,693,365

Greenfield Community Energy and TechnologyGreenfield$758,734
Spectrum Northeast LLCFlorida, Hawley, Monroe, Savoy$4,904,841

 

 

 

Verizon New England Inc.

Agawam, Amesbury, Amherst, Ashburnham, Attleboro, Barre, Bernardston, Brewster, Chicopee, Dartmouth, Deerfield, Fall River, Falmouth, Gloucester, Harwich, Holyoke, Lunenburg, Mashpee, North Brookfield, Sandwich, Sheffield, Townsend, Springfield, Warren, Wellfleet, Yarmouth

 

 

 

$37,068,263


Grant recipients will use funds to deliver projects that must:

  • Deliver service that meets or exceeds internet speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and 100 Mbps for uploads
  • Provide internet access to 100% of all existing unserved and underserved serviceable locations
  • Provide a minimum 20% funding match with waivers provided to certain municipalities that have existing debt obligations associated with municipal fiber-to-the-premise projects
  • Reach substantial project completion before December 31, 2026

The four awardees selected in the first round will work with MBI to validate the unserved and underserved location count included in each grantee’s proposal. The goal of this review is to connect 100% of the serviceable locations in each community, ensuring alignment with the goal of the federal Internet for All initiative.