News & Updates

RANGE Cycle 3 Closes Friday, Nov. 14

The Retrofit Ancillary Grantee (RANGE) Program Cycle 3 application for the $8 million program opened, Tuesday, Oct. 21. The RANGE Program was created to provide funding directly to support broadband adoption at residential buildings participating in MBI’s Residential Retrofit Program. The program ensures residents can fully benefit from the improved broadband service. Only housing operators currently enrolled in the Residential Retrofit Program are eligible to receive funding for devices, digital literacy courses, resident coordination, digital navigators and additional resources. The RANGE Cycle 3 application will close on Friday, Nov. 14 at 11:59 p.m. 

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MBI Launched Connected & Online Program

On Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) launched the Connected & Online Program, a $23 million initiative. This program aims to expand access to education opportunities, workforce training and health care access by providing up to 27,000 internet-enabled devices to eligible organizations across Massachusetts.

Applicants requesting devices must use them to increase access by establishing public device lending programs and on-site device stations. Devices will be fully loaded with software, selected accessories and warranties at no cost to awardees. The application deadline closed, Friday, Nov. 7.

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Honoring Digital Ecosystem Award Winners and

Celebrating Progress: Thank You to Massachusetts Goes DigitALL Attendees

(Right photo) Digital Ecosystem Award Winners and state leaders, pictured at MBI's 2025 Massachusetts Goes DigitALL event on Oct. 8, 2025.

On Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, at the Top of the Tower in Worcester, hundreds of stakeholders gathered to celebrate increased access to digital pathways at MBI’s Massachusetts Goes DigitALL celebration. Thank you to all who attended.  

For the second consecutive year, MBI brought together members of the digital ecosystem to celebrate the state’s continued progress. At the event, various sectors including housing, nonprofit agencies, education representatives, municipalities, providers and more gathered to carry the momentum forward. 

The program featured powerful stories of how digital learning opportunities are transforming communities, alongside the presentation of the Digital Ecosystem Awards. 

• Digital Access Champion – City of Boston Senior Digital Equity Manager Peter Favorito 
• Excellence in Community Impact - La Colaborativa 

Read more about the winners here. 

Another event highlight was the fireside chat, Unlocking Digital Access: Building Opportunity & Economic Competitiveness, moderated by Massachusetts Competitive Partnership President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jay Ash. Panelists Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) President and CEO Brooke Thomson and the City of Boston Chief Information Officer (CIO) Santi Garces discussed how expanding digital access can drive economic growth and strengthen Massachusetts' competitiveness.  

Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Edward Augustus, also joined the MBI team to recognize housing operators currently enrolled in MBI’s Residential Retrofit Program and commended their dedication to helping achieve internet for all. 

Participants in MBI’s Digital Equity Municipal Planning Program were also recognized for their commitment and efforts to increase digital access statewide. Since the program's creation, 105 municipalities have developed a digital equity plan. The data for these plans was collected through the hosting of 117 events across 74 municipalities, engaging nearly 14,000 residents and the collection of over 12,000 survey responses.  

To help make future events more informative and successful, we’re asking those who attended to provide feedback via our event survey. Please find links to additional event resources below: 

• The full video of the fireside chat, Unlocking Digital Access: Building Opportunity & Economic Competitiveness  
• Event photos 
• Event slides 

Click below to check out our MA Goes DigitALL LinkedIn post. The MBI team looks forward to seeing you in 2026! 

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MBI’s Michael Baldino Participates in Bar Association Conference and AnchorNets 2025 

On Tuesday, Oct. 21, MBI Director and General Counsel Michael Baldino attended the New England Chapter of the Federal Communications Bar Association’s Current Issues Conference. At the event, cohosted with the Boston College Law School, Baldino served on a panel discussing federal policy and regulatory issues, including federal impacts on broadband infrastructure and funding and the future of the Universal Service Fund. The panel was moderated by the Department of Telecommunications and Cable (DTC) Commissioner Karen Charles. 

Later than month on Thursday, Oct. 30, Baldino participated in a State Broadband Leaders panel at the AnchorNets 2025 conference in Arlington, Virginia. AnchorNets is hosted by the Schools Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition and is the largest annual convening of community anchor institutions (CAIs). His panel focused on the status of the BEAD Program, the potential implications for CAI connectivity, and the path forward to universal broadband access.

Ecosystem Updates / Events

MBI Partner, MACIR, Wins MIT Global Economic Prosperity Challenge   

Congratulations to the Mass Association for Computer & Internet Resources (MACIR) for being selected as a winner of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) 2025 Global Economic Prosperity Challenge. MACIR received $100,000 to assist with their Enhancing Literacy and Empowerment for Valued Access to Technology and Education (ELEVATE) initiative.



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Local Tenant Organizations Embrace Digital Skills Learning 

In early October, MBI served as a sponsor and workshop host at the Mass Union of Public Housing Tenants Fall Convention in Marlborough. During the conference MBI Manager of Digital Equity, Outreach and Engagement Cheryl Coss hosted a workshop, "Digital Skills for Local Tenant Organization (LTO) Engagement and Outreach." This workshop helped LTOs learn how to use apps, such as WhatsApp, and utilize AI tools for drafting and translation assistance. Additionally, each organization in attendance at the workshop received a laptop from donations by Comcast and MACIR. 

MakeIT Haverhill Expands to Bigger Space

MakeIT Haverhill, a nonprofit providing English language learning and digital skills training, moved to a larger space early in October. The organization, whose mission is to provide skills training to help individuals access employment and career advancement, has grown significantly. This increase has led to more staff, over 300 individuals served via their drop-in English learning program, more than 240 residents receiving roughly 2,000 hours of instruction, and a 300-person waitlist for their digital skills programming. MakeIT Haverhill has also become a community hub, with two senators and two state representatives holding monthly office hours out of their location. 

In the News

Healey-Driscoll Administration Launches $23 Million Program to Combat Digital Divide in Massachusetts

Hoodline covered the launch of MBI's Connected and Online Program.

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North Carolina Defines Digital Skills Standards: MBI Program Highlighted

The Telecompetitor referenced MBI's Connected and Online Program in an article about North Carolina's new statewide digital skills standards. It mentioned the program as an example of initiatives continuing to, "educate people in the digital realm [sic] despite setbacks." 

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