WESTBOROUGH, MA – The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved Massachusetts’ State Digital Equity Plan (PDF), which was formally submitted to the federal government in December 2023. The Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) and the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) at Mass Tech will utilize new eligible funding to continue its work with Massachusetts communities to address the digital divide. This includes addressing digital skills training, access to devices, and internet affordability, including increasing access to low-cost options.
WESTBOROUGH, MA – Today, the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) at MassTech announced the launch of the Residential Internet Retrofit Program, a $22 million statewide initiative to equip public and affordable housing units across the state with high-speed internet for current and future residents. MBI will bring together Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and property owners to upgrade in-building telecommunications wiring, equipment, and infrastructure within older housing developments to provide residents with the necessary network capabilities to fully utilize high-speed internet service essential for daily activities such as communicating with friends and family, remote work, online educational opportunities, and telehealth appointments.
WESTBOROUGH, MA – The Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) at MassTech has announced a third group of 16 cities and towns participating in the Commonwealth’s Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program. The program provides municipalities across the state with free strategic planning from pre-qualified consultants to help cities and towns determine the main impediments to internet access and help focus on solutions to bridge the existing digital divide, and tackle issues around affordability, digital literacy training, device access, and other barriers.
Seven Massachusetts communities and regions were named National Digital Inclusion Trailblazers by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA). Several of these communities participate in MBI's Municipal Digital Equity Planning grant program:
City of Boston; Pioneer Valley Region; City of Pittsfield; City of Quincy; Town of Randolph and; the City of Somerville. Also included is the Boston Metro Region, which highlights the work of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and partners to boost connectivity and access across the region.
WESTBOROUGH, Mass. – Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) at MassTech announced $20 million in new grants through the state’s Digital Equity Partnerships Program, which supports high-impact and scalable initiatives that reach residents most affected by the digital divide.
WESTBOROUGH, MA – Today, the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) launched a public comment period to gather feedback about the state’s Internet for All Plan. In order to deploy over $145 million in funds towards broadband and digital equity allocated to the state through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, MBI is gathering input from residents, municipalities, and organizational stakeholders across Massachusetts both online and via mail. A year of planning efforts has established two documents to guide the state’s Internet for All Plan – a Statewide Digital Equity Plan and the Initial Proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program.
WESTBOROUGH, MASS. – The Massachusetts Broadband Institute at MassTech (MBI), on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has launched the Broadband Infrastructure Gap Networks Grant Program, a new competitive grant program funded by $145 million from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund that aims to deliver high-speed internet infrastructure to areas that currently lack broadband-level service. The Gap Networks program aims to expand connectivity to unserved and underserved locations throughout the state to help bridge the digital divide, with a particular focus on communities with substantial low-income households and disadvantaged populations.
On Friday, September 29th, Mayor Michelle Wu announced that the City of Boston has been awarded three grants totaling over $5 million from the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to boost digital equity efforts within the City.
WESTBOROUGH, MA – The Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) at MassTech has announced the second group of municipalities that will benefit from the Commonwealth’s Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program, which provides strategic consultation to cities and towns to help them identify barriers to internet access, boost direct community engagement, and execute digital equity plans to close the digital divide. The program will fund technical assistance for 27 municipalities that will help uncover the best ways to leverage existing and potential future resources, build digital skills, and engage residents in order to expand internet access, affordability, and adoption in each community.
