The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech) and the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) today announced $22,260,701 in grants to provide internet access to 15,793 affordable housing units in 54 communities in the state.
The awards were made through the Residential Retrofit Program, which provides infrastructure to public and affordable housing.
Aervivo Inc. was the big winner. It was granted $20,113,689 to provide connectivity to 15,063 housing units. It will deploy technology supporting symmetrical services from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps. The company also will provide devices for residents, digital literacy classes, free Wi-Fi in public areas, and open access network options.
Massachusetts also awarded Comcast Cable Communications $1,100,200 in broadband grants to provide symmetrical services of at least 100 Mbps to 485 housing units. The company also will provide digital literacy or navigation and Wi-Fi in public spaces.
The Pittsfield Housing Authority won a grant to serve 245 units in Pittsfield. “The Residential Retrofit Program is an ambitious effort to revamp decades-old wiring affecting low-income families and we’re already seeing how much of an impact this work has had,” MBI Director Michael Baldino said in a press release about the Massachusetts broadband grants.
“This round of Residential Retrofit Program grantees demonstrated a dedication to serving affordable housing residents and providing them with access needed to thrive in the digital age.”
This round of broadband grants was the third and largest tranche of awards by Massachusetts’ $82 million Residential Retrofit Program. The program awarded $6.3 million last December and $10.4 million in March.
The Residential Retrofit Program also supports Internet adoption in affordable housing via the new $8 million Retrofit Ancillary Grantee (RANGE) program.
Funding for the Residential Retrofit Program and RANGE are from the Capital Projects Fund, which is part of the American Rescue Plan Act.
Aervivo and Comcast also were the big winners in the December round of Massachusetts retrofit broadband grants. Aervivo was awarded $726,989 and Comcast $5,099,545. In addition, Greenfield Community Energy Technology was awarded a project.
