The Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) has awarded $1.33 million to 19 communities in its new Municipal Digital Equity Implementation Program.
MBI says the grants focus on staff capacity for digital equity, Wi-Fi access and innovative connectivity technology, public space modernization, connectivity for economic hardship, digital literacy, device distribution and refurbishment and education, outreach, and adoption.
The grants were given to the following municipalities: Adams ($64,303); Charlton ($84,990.87 ); Cheshire ($9,040); Easthampton ($99,515); Fairhaven ($54,675.02); Florida ($23,100); Greenfield ($80,679.60); Lanesborough ($53,626.45); Lynn ($100,000); Montague ($26,110); New Bedford ($85,000.04); North Adams ($60,291.08); Peabody ($95,041); Pittsfield ($99,972); Randolph ($71,688); Sandwich ($64,893.95); Somerville ($99,886.56); Watertown ($61,151.06p) and Worcester ($100,000).
Participating communities in the program include Barnstable, Barre, Beverly, Cambridge, Chelsea, East Longmeadow, Gill, Hadley, Harwick, Haverhill, Hubbardston, Lawrence, Marion, Mattapoisett, Methuen, Millbury, New Braintree, North Andover, North Brookfield, Rochester, Somerset, Southbridge, Swansea, Taunton, Townsend, West Brookfield, Westfield, and Woburn.
Massachusetts is bolstering its broadband. In July, it awarded more than $45 million to four network operators to bring broadband to underserved areas. Verizon was the big winner with $37 million. Charter got $4.9 million; Comcast got almost $2.7 million and Greenfield Community Energy and Technology — a municipal network operator in Greenfield — got almost $758,734. The grantees will contribute $40 million to the projects.
Additional information about Massachusetts broadband, including state funding resources, awards made, and state-specific coverage, can be found on the Telecompetitor Broadband Nation webpage for the state.
