Expanding Wireless Broadband Hubs in Unserved Communities

Massachusetts and KCST Offering New Wifi Hotspots to Assist COVID-19 Response

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Massachusetts Broadband Institute at MassTech and KCST have worked with local internet service providers (ISPs) to offer new Wifi hotspots to unserved municipalities that lack broadband access.

• These new access points build off of the Commonwealth-owned MassBroadband 123 fiber-optic network. Each hotspot has been established at one of the community anchor institutions (CAIs) connected to the 1,200 mile fiber network in 2014.

• Each of the remaining unserved communities has been offered a temporary 250 Megabit per second (Mbps) wireless hotspot, which will allow them to increase wireless broadband access for residents and students impacted by COVID-19 restrictions.
• ISPs that participate in this program must offer the service free of any monthly charge to an eligible community, which will be offered until the end of 2020. 

With the support of the Massachusetts Broadband Institute at MassTech, KCST reached out to local ISPs to offer the temporary wireless hotspot services in the unserved communities that do not yet have a completed Last Mile broadband network.

• 26 active wifi sites have been established through this program – full list below.
• Our thanks to town leaders and the ISPs – Access Plus, Crocker, Westfield Gas+Electric – for their help launching these sites.
• Several ISPs and communities also launched hotspots that are not part of this program but are included on the list, marked with an asterisk(*). Communities with independently established hotspots are still eligible to receive a hotspot under this program.

MBI expects that each community will provide residents with instructions on how to access the hotspots. 

PLEASE NOTE: It is critical that citizens who use these hotspots follow social distancing protocols in accordance with the guidance issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Any questions about the program should be directed to KCST (sales@kcstusa.com, 413-223-6016).

Progress continues on the Last Mile projects in unserved communities in Western and Central Massachusetts, which have been supported by over $41 million in direct grants from the Commonwealth's Last Mile program. Seventeen of the 53 communities in the program have completed projects, connectivity which has delivered broadband access to an estimated 16,000 citizens. Broadband construction projects are nearing completion in another 12 communities and service will continue to be rolled out to more residents and businesses in these communities over the coming months.