Patrick seeks broadband funding

By Ryan Hutton
North Adams Transcript / October 17, 2009

In seeking federal stimulus funds for improved broadband Internet access in the state, Gov. Deval L. Patrick has prioritized Western Massachusetts as one of the areas of greatest need in the state.

Patrick sent a letter sent on Wednesday to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration -- which is distributing the funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act -- and requested funding for greater broadband Internet access in Western Massachusetts, Cape Cod and Boston.

"I believe these applications demonstrate the commonwealth’s leadership on broadband on all fronts, and, collectively, these applications support the NTIA’s overall goals of addressing unserved communities, underserved communities, and increasing broadband adoption in all areas." Patrick wrote.

The Massachusetts Broadband Institute worked on the proposal that was attached to Patrick’s letter and the plans for the western part of the state call for building -- over the next two or three years -- a 581-mile, carrier-class, fiber-optic infrastructure project providing broadband access. This would provide high-speed Internet access to 20,337 households, or 97 percent of the rural areas encompassing 1,591 square miles -- roughly a third of the state.

"We think that that is the missing link to help bring broadband to basically everyone in western Mass." said Jason Whittet, interim director of the Massachusetts Broadband Institute.

The Initiative’s mission is to extend affordable, high-speed Internet access to all homes, businesses, schools, libraries, medical facilities and government offices in the state. In the proposal, the Institute pointed out that the state is often defined by the greater Boston area and people tend to neglect the rural, western areas. The proposal says the "rolling hills and landscape" of Pioneer Valley and the Berkshires are both what make it beautiful and hamper efforts to bring modern Internet access to the area -- much the same way they hampered electrification efforts in the last century.

Patrick is seeking funds for the project as part of the national Broadband Technology Opportunities Program which is distributing $28 billion for broadband programs as part of the recovery act. The first round of funding will distribute $1.6 billion to 2,200 applicants from across the nation.

State Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams, said he was not surprised Patrick chose Western Massachusetts as a priority because the governor has always been an advocate for the area. Bosley said he hopes the funding will come through for the projects because there are four communities in Western Massachusetts that are unserved by broadband Internet, including Savoy, Monterey, Hawley and Wendell, and 43 that are underserved including Florida, Windsor, Hancock, Lanesborough and parts of Adams.

"Number one: It’s just important because that’s the way society is going," Bosley said of broadband Internet access. "But second, it’s good for business. In order for us to be competitive and to attract businesses and jobs, we need to be able to offer broadband. We also need to make it available in the small communities because people need the option of running a business but living wherever they want. We stifle the ability to be competitive if we don’t have broadband - it’s not all about killing time on Facebook."

The other two projects the governor has prioritized include building a fiber-optic "backbone" down Cape Cod along with increasing the availability of wireless networks on the Cape and building a hybrid fiber/wireless network to deliver free and open access to 117,000 homes in the poorest areas of Boston. The recipients of the funds from the recovery act will be announced next month.