Massachusetts

Massachusetts Digital Equity Summit

On June 13, 2023, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Broadband Institute at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative co-hosted the Massachusetts Digital Equity Summit in Worcester. Over 250 people attended this highly energizing and interactive event in-person that had 120 virtual participants.

Following the well-attended Digital Equity Summit, the Commonwealth launched a seven-stop regional listening tour. As Massachusetts has a very diverse geography, the stops ranged from its most densely populated urban areas to its most sparsely populated rural areas. As required by the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) and Digital Equity Programs, the data collected from the tour will inform the development of plans. These plans will help Massachusetts access broadband and digital equity funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

Community Conversation

In Boston, NTIA staff attended a state-held community conversation with Worcester Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and government officials, as well as a session entitled “Broadband in Public Housing.” At these meetings, NTIA listened to firsthand accounts of the issues and opportunities related to broadband adoption in the state.

Digital Equity Working Group

The state established a Digital Equity Working Group to guide and advise planning efforts, including statewide stakeholder engagement. The Working Group is composed of leaders from across Massachusetts who offer specific topic area expertise and represent target populations, as defined by federal funding guidelines and Massachusetts Broadband Institute’s (MBI) programs.

Massachusetts also conducted and released a community survey on understanding the barriers to Internet access, affordability, and adoption to help close the digital divide. Several thousand community members participated in the survey.

Addressing Digital Access Gaps in Boston

The University of Massachusetts Boston received a Connecting Minority Communities (CMC) Pilot Program grant for $2.9 million to equip more students with the skills and technology needed to be competitive in an increasingly digital economy.

Connecting Tribal Lands

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe received a $9.1 million Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) grant to construct a high-speed fiber network that will improve access to education, jobs and healthcare on Tribal lands.