Massachusetts gets $145 million to bring broadband to rural, underserved towns

Massachusetts will get $145 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, enough to bring high-speed internet service to 16,000 households and businesses.

Those 16,000 households represent 27% of locations still lacking high-speed internet access in the state, according to a news release issued Thursday by U.S. Sens Edward J. Markey and Elizabeth Warren along with the state’s Congressional delegation including U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield and U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester.

The biggest gaps in broadband exist in the central and western portions of the state.

Describing broadband as “the connective tissue of our commercial, social, and civic lives,” the Massachusetts delegation in a joint statement said the funds would benefit communities that have disproportionally lacked access to high-speed internet: communities of color and communities whose residents experience low incomes.

“It is past time that all families in our great Commonwealth reap the benefits of high-speed internet, and it is past time we close the digital divide. With this funding, Massachusetts is closer than ever to achieving that elusive goal,” the statement said.

Michigan, and Wisconsin also received their grant announcements Thursday.

The money is from the American Rescue Plan Act’s $10 billion Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund meant for critical capital projects that enable work, education and health monitoring in response to the public health emergency, Treasury said.

The broadband money will be available as grants for internet service providers in underserved areas.

But it is still to be determined what areas count as unserved as the Massachusetts Broadband Institute is still proceeding with its mapping effort, according to Treasury.

The state has committed to using the money for its Broadband Infrastructure Gap Networks Grant Program which is designed to provide internet service with symmetrical upload and download speeds of 100 megabits per second to households and businesses.

That’s fast enough to download an entire music album in around 7 seconds or a high-definition-quality movie in about 5 minutes.

The plan approved Thursday represents 83% of the state’s total allocation under the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund. Massachusetts submitted plans for the remainder of its funds and these plans are currently under review by Treasury.

“The pandemic exposed longstanding challenges that workers and families face when they don’t have adequate access to the internet, especially those living in rural areas and other unconnected communities. That is why the Biden-Harris Administration’s broadband investments across the country are so critical,” said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo. “This funding through the American Rescue Plan will help provide affordable, high-speed internet service to communities across Massachusetts, including the most rural parts of the state. We commend Massachusetts for targeting this funding to places where it is most urgently needed across the state.”

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