Several Massachusetts entities have been awarded a total of $4.5 million in grants to support digital equity projects in 61 communities throughout the state. In addition, ten municipalities have been added to the Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program.
The $4,457,546 in funding comes from the Equity Implementation Program. The initiative is backed by the state and by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s (MassTech) Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI).
The communities were identified by the Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program, which provides strategic consultation and data collection for communities to expand internet access, purchase devices, boost digital skills training and increase community engagement, according to the press release.
“MBI is expanding internet access and affordability by putting more devices in the hands of residents, lowering the cost of public internet and strengthening digital skills training,” MBI Program Executive Judy Jones said in a press release about the digital equity grants. “Municipalities are using state resources and data collection to identify gaps and carry out plans to best support residents as Massachusetts strives for internet for all.”
The Massachusetts digital equity grants will focus on connectivity to combat economic hardship; device distribution and refurbishment; digital literacy; education, outreach, and adoption; public space modernization; staff capacity for digital equity; Wi-Fi access; and innovative connectivity technology.
The grantees include the communities of Ashburnham, Ashby, Barnstable, Becket (regional lead), Beverly, Billerica (regional lead), Boston, Bourne, Cambridge, Chelsford, Chelsea, Chicopee, Dunstable, East Longmeadow, Falmouth, Fitchburg, Gill, Gloucester, Great Barrington, Hadley, Hampden, Holyoke, Haverhill, Hubbardston, Lawrence, Lee, Leominster, Leverett, Leyden, Lowell, Marion, Mattapoisett, Methuen, Millbury, Monterey, New Marlborough, New Salem, Orange, Otis, Pepperell, Phillipston, Quincy, Rochester, Royalston, Sheffield, Southbridge, Springfield, Stockbridge, Swansea, Taunton, Templeton, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Warwick, Wellfleet, Wendell, West Brookfield, West Stockbridge, Westfield, Westhampton, Winchendon, Windsor, and Woburn.
The communities added to the state’s Municipal Equity Planning Program include Berkley, Dighton, and Rehoboth; Berlin and Boylston; Carver, Lakeville, and Middleborough; and Mendon and Salem.
In August, the state and MassTech awarded $31,548,018 to four broadband service providers to bring connectivity to more than 13,700 housing units in 60 municipalities in the Residential Retrofit Program. The awards were to Aervivo Inc., Archtop Fiber LLC Comcast Cable Communications, and CBN Geneva LLC.
A month later, MassTech, the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI), and the state government announced a $23 million initiative — involving grants and other awards — designed to help close the digital device gap. The Connected and Online Program was to distribute 27,000 laptops, desktops, tablets, assistive technology and supportive equipment with broadband capability.
