News & Updates

SEPTEMBER 2025

Massachusetts BEAD Final Proposal Submitted to NTIA

On July 31, 2025, the grant solicitation closed for the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program Benefit of the Bargain round. MBI facilitated a seven-day public comment period that opened on Aug. 27, 2025, and closed on Sept. 3, 2025. Following the public comment period, the BEAD Final Proposal was submitted to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Pending NTIA approval, the BEAD grant awards will expand high-speed internet access to unserved and underserved Broadband Serviceable Locations (BSLs) as well as community anchor institutions (CAIs) that lack access to 1 Gbps symmetrical service.

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RANGE Cycle 2 Closes Wednesday, Oct. 1

The RANGE Cycle 2 application for the $8 million Retrofit Ancillary Grantee (RANGE) Program opened on Aug. 4. The RANGE program, created to assist housing operators of outfitted buildings in the Residential Retrofit Program, ensures residents can fully benefit from the improved broadband service. Only housing operators currently enrolled in the Residential Retrofit Program may submit an application to receive funding for devices, digital literacy courses, resident coordination, digital navigators, and additional resources. The RANGE Cycle 2 application will close on Wednesday, Oct. 1.

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Register Today: Massachusetts Goes DigitALL

Register now for MBI’s Massachusetts Goes DigitALL event on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at Top of the Tower in Worcester. MBI will bring the ecosystem together to celebrate digital access and work taking place to expand digital resources across the state. The recipients of MBI’s 2025 Digital Ecosystem Awards will also be honored. Learn more about the event, venue and how to register here .

Easthampton Media: Empowering a Digitally Confident Community

Easthampton Media (E.Media) Executive Director Jeff Mastroianni (right) pictured with GoDigital Easthampton learner (left). Photo courtesy of E.Media.

Last year, the city of Easthampton partnered with Easthampton Media (E.Media), a local public media nonprofit, to bridge the community’s digital literacy gap through the Municipal Digital Equity Implementation Program.

MBI awarded the city a $99,515 grant to expand digital literacy programming via its GoDigital Easthampton initiative. This allowed E.Media to establish its Learn-to-Earn program as well as other digital literacy skills classes.

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Do You Have a Story to Share?

The MBI team is proud to celebrate its digital empowerment ecosystem partners. We invite organizations to share their community impact stories. These stories could highlight a person, project or community group. If your organization receives MBI funding and has helped individuals bridge the digital divide, MBI wants to hear from you.

Email MBI at broadband@masstech.org and share your story.

Ecosystem Updates / Events

Nine Municipalities to Expand Digital Access Skills

Digital skill access will be expanded in nine municipalities across the Commonwealth as part of the Municipal Digital Equity Implementation Program.

A combined total of more than $500,000 has been awarded across the communities to implement activities outlined in plans previously developed through the Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program. This grant funding will help municipalities establish projects to bridge the digital divide for residents in each community.

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MBI Celebrates Apartment Wi-Fi Launch in Quincy

On Friday, Aug. 22, MBI, the City of Quincy, the Quincy Housing Authority, and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) celebrated the launch of the Apartment Wi-Fi project at O’Brien Towers, a housing community in Quincy serving seniors and individuals with disabilities. The program run by MAPC and funded through MBI’s Digital Equity Partnerships Program, aims to increase access to affordable and reliable internet service.

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13,700 Public and Affordable Housing Units to Receive Updated Internet

Four internet service providers will increase high-speed internet access across the state through the Residential Retrofit Program . In August, MBI announced $32 million was awarded to upgrade wiring in more than 13,700 public and affordable housing units across 60 municipalities. These funds will address inadequate wiring via the installation of fiber-optic and CAT6 internet infrastructure, customer home-based equipment and Wi-Fi service.

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In the News

Town Receives $85K in State Funding for Internet Accessibility Program

The Falmouth Enterprise covered MBI's $85,000 investment in Falmouth for the town to establish a digital navigator program.

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On Social Media

MBI Team Celebrated MAPC's Apartment Wi-Fi Program "Go Live" at the O'Brien Towers in Quincy

MBI celebrated the Metropolitan Area Planning Council's (MAPC) "Go Live" of its apartment Wi-Fi program at the O'Brien Towers in Quincy.

This program, and MAPC's work with the city of Quincy to publish the city's digital equity plan, are important steps towards increasing digital opportunities in the state.

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