Program Updates - July 2024

14 Lead For America Members to Graduate from Program

This year, the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) partnered with the American Connection Corps (ACC) to place 14 members in host sites across Massachusetts for ACC’s Lead For America (LFA) Program. This capacity building program places individuals with community connections in roles that support the increase of digital inclusion initiatives. The service term of up to 12 months will end in August and a graduation ceremony will take place in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the service members listed below for the incredible community impact and individual contributions to our collective goal of closing the digital divide.



Learn more about the LFA Program and how to become involved here.  

BEAD Challenge Process Continues

The Massachusetts Challenge Process for MBI’s $147 million Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program has begun. Local governments, non-profits, tribal governments and internet service providers can register on the online Challenge portal to participate in the process, including the submission of challenges. The deadline to submit challenges is Saturday, July 20. Residents can submit evidence for challenges, however the evidence must be reviewed and formally submitted by an eligible entity. MBI has engaged Connected Nation as our nonprofit partner to provide technical support and review and submit resident challenges. 


As of July 8, MBI had received 14,060 challenges from across the state. Additionally, 61 eligible challengers had registered to submit challenges. These challengers consist of non-profit organizations, tribal governments, municipalities and internet service providers (ISPs) with geographic coverage in areas such as Cape Cod, the Berkshires, the Pioneer Valley, Boston and the South Coast.  


Also, resources have continued to be updated on MBI’s Challenge Process

website, including a list of eligible challengers residents can contact, information on how to register to become an eligible challenger and more. MBI will continue to host office hours to provide technical assistance and answer questions that may arise throughout the process. A full list of office hours, along with links to register for office hours can be found here. Those interested in participating in the Challenge Process are encouraged to submit any challenges as soon as possible. 

$45 Million Awarded Through Gap Networks Grant Program

Round 1 of the $145 million Gap Networks Grant Program, which closed earlier this year, will distribute $45.4 million to address unserved or underserved homes businesses and community anchor institutions across the state. The program, which will fund the expansion of high-speed broadband internet infrastructure, will provide funding to four ISPs across 41 communities in Massachusetts. Funded projects will meet several criteria, including offering internet speeds that meet or exceed 100/100 Mbps and providing internet access to 100% of all existing unserved and underserved locations. Projects must achieve substantial completion before December 31, 2026. 


The following ISPs have been selected as awardees of Round 1 of the Gap Networks Grant Program:

 

  • Comcast has been awarded funds to serve Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown, Monson, Nantucket, Oak Bluffs, Palmer, Tisbury, Ware and West Tisbury. 
  • Greenfield Community Energy and Technology has been awarded funds to serve Greenfield. 
  • Spectrum Northeast, LLC has been awarded funds to serve Florida, Hawley, Monroe and Savoy. 
  • Verizon New England, Inc. has been awarded funds to serve 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 and Yarmouth. 



Read more about the projects and awardees here.  

$1.2 Million to be Awarded Through the Municipal Digital Equity Implementation Program

The Municipal Digital Equity Implementation Program application process closed on May 31, for municipalities that did not enter a Reservation of Funds agreement. The program, designed to mobilize, start and implement digital equity activities locally, will award a one-time grant of up to $100,000 per eligible municipality. These grants will be used to execute a project (or projects) defined in their Digital Equity Plan or Digital Equity Charette Report. Copies of the completed plans developed under the Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program can be found here. 


As a result of the program, over $1.2 million will be awarded across 18 eligible municipalities in the current award cycle. The grants will be awarded to fund projects in initiative areas such as Wi-Fi access, public space improvements, digital literacy, device distribution and education, outreach and adoption. Projects will be led by entities such as libraries, councils on aging, local non-project organizations, housing authorities and community media centers. MBI will continue to provide awards to additional eligible municipalities over the next year of the grant program. 

June Events: Senator Markey Convenes Broadband Affordability Roundtable

Sen. Edward Markey (back row, third from left), the Massachusetts Digital Equity Coalition, advocates, municipal and tribal leaders and representatives of ISPs gathered for an internet affordability roundtable on June 16.

On June 14, members of the MBI team attended an internet affordability roundtable co-hosted by Sen. Edward Markey, the Massachusetts Digital Equity Coalition, advocates, municipal and tribal leaders and representatives of ISPs. MBI Director and General Counsel Michael Baldino participated in the roundtable discussion and MBI's Digital Equity Partners including the Alliance for Digital Equity in Western MA, City of Boston, Mass Law Reform Institute, Tech Goes Home and Vinfen provided representation. During the event leaders from around the state including MBI Director Baldino joined Sen. Markey to discuss the need for affordable broadband and how Massachusetts can provide connectivity for all. Learn more about the Digital Equity Coalition and this event here.  

Cambridge Public Library Seeking Digital Equity Manager

The Cambridge Public Library is seeking a digital equity manager. This position will help the library continue to foster equity and access within the City of Cambridge by engaging the public in quality digital equity learning experiences. The digital equity manager will work to collaborate with the city to guide the library’s digital equity agenda, create new initiatives for digital equity learning and build high quality digital equity curriculum. Those interested can learn more about the position and apply here.  

Meet the MBI Team: GIS Manager Cynthia Gaines

Meet MBI Geographic Information System (GIS) Manager Cynthia Gaines. Gaines manages and oversees all geographic related data essential to MBI programming. Working across each MBI program, Gaines is responsible for analyzing, interpreting and translating data essential to understanding broadband needs across the state. Find the entire MBI team’s contact information here.

In the News

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