Shutesbury Town Hall (1 Cooleyville Road).
file photo
The city’s broadband rollouts over the past decade or so have ensured that all residents of Leverett and Shutesbury have access to high-speed internet connections, but a small minority of households continue to opt out.
In Westhampton, more than nine in 10 residents agree that broadband infrastructure is essential to maintaining town services and the local economy, according to the 2022 Master Plan Survey.
However, some populations, especially those living in remote and so-called “last mile” areas, remain without internet connectivity.
Recognizing that challenges remain in connecting every home to broadband, three communities in Franklin and Hampshire counties are joining 75 other cities this week as part of the Massachusetts Digital Equity Plan program. and participated in the town. This is an initiative of the Massachusetts Broadband Institute to help communities with resources. Close the digital divide and expand internet access.
Mr. Shutesberry and Mr. Leverett will work in conjunction with consultants from the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, but their primary focus will be on identifying barriers to internet access, finding solutions to bridge the existing digital divide, and providing affordable issues around affordability and digital literacy will be addressed. training, access to devices, and other barriers.
Gail Huntress, Shutesbury lighting plant manager and broadband committee chair, said the plans were in the early stages and aimed to improve digital equity for residents.
“The city’s broadband network, which covers the entire town, means the infrastructure issues are already solved,” Mr Huntress said. “It is important now to improve access to technology and education.
In 2015, Shutesbury voters approved the Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion nullification for $1.69 million in project funding, with the goal of providing active gigabit service to 90% of all households for just $60 per month. Achieved.
Currently, the town is committed to affordability, helping seniors with digital skills, especially when it comes to cybersecurity, and connecting them to resources such as the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program. We focus on connecting. , and create, distribute, and analyze research to uncover capital gaps.
Leverett was the first of 45 rural communities in western and central Massachusetts to complete the last mile network. The project began in 2012, and MBI provided him with $666,000 in Provision 2 1/2 debt forgiveness to pay for the 39-mile air network. A $3.6 million project.
LeverettNet is the municipal broadband network available to all residents, with 95% of households subscribed. However, the town plans to work with consultants to survey the remaining 5% of uninsured households and assess barriers to connectivity, such as cost, training and devices. The completed report will be completed with support from MBI. This is important because the town does not have the resources to conduct a comprehensive digital asset needs assessment.
In Westhampton, residents understand the importance of reliable broadband for emergency response and other purposes, so officials are working with service providers and MBI to learn more about the availability and reliability of existing networks to ensure high-speed We prioritize reliable access to the Internet. The town will also focus on distributing devices, increasing literacy rates and generating financial resources to support the unconnected.
Massachusetts Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao said in a statement that Massachusetts continues to lead the nation in providing resources to cities and towns to address the digital divide and strengthen accessibility and education.
“This program will enable more municipalities to empower their residents and provide not only internet access but also the training, devices and expertise they need to compete in the digital economy,” Hao said. Ta. “As commerce, job opportunities and essential resources move online, it is important to ensure strong connectivity for our residents to excel now and in the future.”
Contact Scott Merzbach at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
