MBI and WesternMA Connect to Host Regional Meetings about MassBroadband 123
Three informational meetings are scheduled for the Fall to explain the next steps in this federally-funded project which will connect 123 communities in north central and western Massachusetts with 1,100 miles of fiber optic cable. Read more >>
Secretary Locke, Senator Kerry, Governor Patrick, and Congressmen Olver and Neal Celebrate $45.4 Million in Federal Stimulus Funding
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Governor Deval Patrick, Senator John Kerry, and Congressmen John Olver and Richard Neal came to Greenfield Community College on Thursday to celebrate the state's $45.4 million federal stimulus award to expand broadband access in western and north central Massachusetts. Read more>>
Read and view related story from WGGB and ABC World News >>
Governor Patrick, Congressional Delegation Announce Massachusetts Will Receive $45.4 Million in Federal Stimulus Funds To Expand Broadband Access in Western and North Central Massachusetts
- MassBroadband 123
- Summary
- Fact Sheet
- Release
- FAQs
- Maps
Governor Patrick and members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation today announced the Commonwealth has been awarded $45.4 million in federal stimulus funding to expand broadband access in western and north central Massachusetts. The Patrick-Murray Administration worked closely with federal and state elected leaders to help secure this significant federal award, which will support long term economic growth, improve health care and education and strengthen public safety throughout the region. Read the complete eblast >>Read nine news stories >>
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Executive SummaryThe Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) is applying to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for $45.4M in funds to add to the $26.2M in state matching funds to build MassBroadband 123 — a robust, open access, middle mile fiber network covering over one-third of the state. The 1,101 mile network will connect 123 communities in western MA and the 1,392 community anchor institutions (CAIs) that serve them. Read the complete summary >> |
Fact SheetThe Fact Sheet provides a concise review of the MassBroadband 123 mission, history, and funding. For a pdf of this single page,follow this link >> |
DashboardThis document outlines |
Governor's Press Release
GOVERNOR PATRICK, CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ANNOUNCE MASSACHUSETTS WILL RECEIVE $45.4 MILLION IN FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDS TO EXPAND BROADBAND ACCESS IN WESTERN AND NORTH-CENTRAL REGIONS OF STATE
Patrick-Murray Administration commits $26.2 million in matching funds, bringing total investment to $71.6 million
BOSTON – Friday, July 2, 2010 – Governor Patrick and members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation today announced the Commonwealth has been awarded $45.4 million in federal stimulus funding to expand broadband access in Western and North-Central Massachusetts. The Patrick-Murray Administration worked closely with federal and state elected leaders to help secure this significant federal award, which will support long term economic growth, improve health care and education and strengthen public safety throughout the region. Read full release >>
FAQs
What is the MBI?
The Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) is a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC), the state’s technology economic development agency. The MBI was founded to bridge the digital divide in Massachusetts. Governor Deval Patrick announced the Massachusetts broadband initiative in August 2007. The foundational premise of this initiative is that the state would make strategic and targeted public investments, analogous to government support for rural electrification in the early 20th century. Read more >>
Maps
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MassBroadband123 Network and Third Party (3MB) |
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MassBroadband123 Network and CAIs (2.5MB) |
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MassBroadband 123 Underserved Area (2.5MB) |
Federal Funding Application for Additional Broadband Mapping and Access Funds
The Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) announced that it is applying for more than $5 million in federal funding under the State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program (SBDD), administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). In November 2009, the MBI was awarded $2 million in federal stimulus funding for broadband data development and mapping. The new SBDD funding opportunity, announced in May, will allow the MBI to build upon current broadband mapping and data collection for up to three additional years. The MBI is the only entity in Massachusetts eligible to apply for the grant, which will support the MBI's mission of expanding broadband connectivity across the state. Read more >>
Request for Proposal for Broadband Network Operator
The Massachusetts Broadband Institute (“MBI”), a non-divisible component of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, is issuing this request for proposals (“RFP”) to qualify and select the broadband network operator for the MBI’s proposed 1,300 plus mile network in western and north central Massachusetts that will be built with over $70 million of public funds. Read more >>
Governor Patrick Supports Federal Funding Application for Broadband in Western Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Broadband Institute is pleased to share some exciting news about a critical milestone for the MBI in its effort to secure federal funding. With a continued focus on expanding affordable, high-speed Internet, Governor Deval Patrick submitted a letter indicating his enthusiastic support for the MBI's federal stimulus application, MassBroadband 123, highlighting the project as his highest priority to be funded by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) created in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Read more >>
Read Governor Patrick's Letter >>
Kerry Pushes Connecting Small Businesses to Broadband and Highlights Needs of Western Massachusetts
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 27, 2010 – Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), a senior member and former Chairman of the Small Business Committee, today released the following statement at a hearing entitled, “Connecting Main Street to the World: Federal Efforts to Expand Small Business Internet Access.”
Read press release >>
Additional Recent News
Getting Connected in e-Health: The role of the MBI in healthcare
Members of the MBI and the Massachusetts e-Health Institute (MeHI), met with physicians, CIOs and other healthcare leaders to discuss how broadband connectivity will enhance healthcare services in western Massachsuetts. The conference, Getting Connected in e-Health, was held at the Baystate Health Education Center in Holyoke on Thursday, May 20.
3/16/10: FCC Unveils the National Broadband Plan
Visit FCC web site>>
3/12/10: Governor Patrick Celebrates $32 Million
in Federal Funding
Read more >>
3/1/10: RFI for Run The Network Operator (RTNO)
Extended Due Date April 2, 2010
Download file
Massachusetts Broadband Institute
The mission of the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI), a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, is to extend affordable high-speed Internet access to all homes, businesses, schools, libraries, medical facilities, government offices, and other public places across our state.
Governor Deval Patrick created the Massachusetts Broadband Institute when he signed the Broadband Act into law in August 2008. The Act gives the MBI the authority to invest up to $40 million of state bond funds in necessary and long-lived infrastructure assets—such as conduits, fiber-optic cable and wireless towers—according to a comprehensive broadband plan that the MBI is designing and will execute.
The first step of this plan is to assess existing broadband availability, resources, and needs throughout the Commonwealth. In partnership with MassGIS, MBI is already conducting a detailed mapping project, focusing on western Massachusetts, where the digital divide is most acute, to determine which locations within each community lack any broadband access. The MBI is also collaborating intensively with other government agencies to understand how their resources can contribute to the MBI’s mission, and how the MBI’s investments can help address their needs.
In July 2009, Governor Patrick announced a partnership between the MBI and the Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) to bring broadband to unserved and underserved communities in western Massachusetts. The $4.3 million in state bond funds will help build out broadband networks to enhance service for small businesses, schools and individuals and improve security and transportation operations in the area.
The MBI has also begun engaging with private broadband firms, both large and small, to develop the co-investment partnerships expected to provide service to the public based on the MBI’s assets. The MBI will make limited and strategic public investments that leverage the use of public dollars to incentivize private investment from providers to supply complete broadband solutions to customers in unserved and underserved areas.
As a result of these efforts, the MBI is well positioned for significant federal stimulus funds available for broadband grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009. The MBI submitted a proposal for federal broadband funding in August 2009.
On November 6, 2009, Governor Patrick announced that the MBI has been awarded $2 million in federal stimulus funding for its statewide broadband availability mapping project. Read more>>