SPRINGFIELD — From working from home to ordering food or filing taxes, the internet has become a part of Americans’ daily lives. While reliable access to high-speed internet is an assumption for many, some in communities across the state don’t have the physical infrastructure to support such a connection.
The Massachusetts Broadband Institute, part of the MassTech Collaborative, has launched a new $22 million project aimed at bridging that gap by coordinating collaboration between affordable housing operators and internet service providers. The institute runs a number of initiatives to encourage universal access to affordable internet. Michael Baldino, president and general counsel of the Massachusetts Broadband Institute, said the internet should be considered a standard, essential utility, like electricity, heat and telephones.
State Economic Development Minister Yvonne Hao praised the program in a press release. “Our economic future depends on high-quality internet access for all, especially for low-income populations who have historically been overlooked and disproportionately affected by the digital divide,” she said. “this [Residential] The retrofit plan takes an equitable approach to address the root causes of low-quality internet service in public and affordable housing. The direct investments made under the program will enhance residents’ connectivity and help them fully participate in the activities of the 21st century. “
Baldino said the state has 160,000 affordable housing units, three-quarters of which were built more than 50 years ago, before the Internet became a ubiquitous part of daily life. Homes built in the past two decades are also not equipped with high-speed internet connectivity. The residential retrofit program aims to add internet capabilities to up to 22,000 units in a 500-unit affordable housing development, giving residents the same features and opportunities as everyone else through high-speed internet access.
The first step in the program, which is currently underway, is to find interested housing operators. The Massachusetts Broadband Institute has hosted several webinars on the program, and another will be held on April 23 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Interested parties can register at Broadband.masstech.org/node/17936.
Housing operators must submit a letter of intent, which will be evaluated by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute. A list of eligible properties will be included in the ISP’s request for proposals, which must respond by May. The institute will assess the proposals against program criteria and facilitate agreements between housing operators and bidding internet service providers.
Grant funds will be used to pay for fiber optic connections to housing units, allowing ISPs to provide service. Baldino said the connections will make the units more attractive to potential tenants and provide ISPs with more potential customers, making it a win-win opportunity. However, it is residents who benefit the most, he said.
“This is a generational investment,” he said, explaining that a lack of consistent internet access eliminates jobs and makes modern, device-dependent education more difficult.
The program is open to housing operators in all regions of the state. “This is statewide. You’re going to see it in the cities. You’re going to see it in the rural areas,” Baldino said.
“There’s an opportunity here to complement the digital equity program that started in Springfield,” said Jake Stern, public relations manager for MassTech partnerships. He was referring to the work being done by the Digital Equity and Internet Access Task Force, a special subcommittee of the City Council established in early 2023. City Councilman Jose Delgado, who chairs the task force, said they will release a report this summer identifying factors exacerbating the city’s digital divide, including affordability and accessibility.
“We are working hard to secure all grants” to mitigate those factors, Delgado said. “The committee believes this is important for the future of the city and its residents.”
For more information about the residential retrofit program, visit broadband.masstech.org/retrofit.