Current Projects

Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) & Incentive Fund  

On August 4, 2008, Governor Patrick signed into law legislation to create the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) and Incentive Fund.  The Connects strongly supported this legislation, and greatly appreciate the work of the Governor and the local legislative delegation for its passage.  The Connects look forward to supporting the MBI in their work to bring broadband to the unserved areas of this region.  For more information. 

Beta Test Program

The Connects Beta Test Program was conducted to test network models and different wireless broadband technologies in rural a New England setting, that has typically been hostile to this type of equipment.  Beta Test Networks were launched in finite areas of Florida in Berkshire County, New Salem in Franklin County, and Worthington in Hampshire County.  More information about the Final Report or view photos of the wireless network technologies.

Regional Broadband Survey

Initiated in December 2008, the purpose of the survey was to better define unserved areas of western Massachusetts and to demonstrate the region’s demand for broadband, while the state broadband legislation was being discussed. The surveys were made available online through SurveyMonkey.com and distributed by local broadband groups and town officials in western Massachusetts communities. The Connects are pleased with the response received, as approximately 5,000 surveys were submitted before the June 30, 2008 deadline.  The Connects have created a summary (135K pdf) of the survey responses and a table of responses by municipality (57K pdf).  If a municipality is interested in receiving the summary of responses for their community, please contact the Connects. For more informatin, please contact Jessica Atwood at jatwood@frcog.org or 413-774-1194 x101 if you have any questions. 

Regional Readiness Kit

The purpose of the Regional Readiness Kit is to provide resources to help local communities be ready to work with private sector firms and state partners that seek to deploy infrastructure in the region (such as partners selected by the MBI).  As tools and reference materials are developed, they will be posted online for use by local broadband groups and municipal officials. 

Tools & Reference Materials:

Western Massachusetts Broadband Availability Database (2007) (91K pdf)

Connects’ Glossary of Telecommunications Terminology (204K pdf).

"Wireless 101" (227K pdf). An overview of wireless and WiFi technology, as presented at a seminar sponsored by the John Adams Innovation Institute in Spring 2007. 

Past Projects

"Connecting Western Massachusetts" is the Connects’ effort to achieve the deployment of advanced, affordable broadband services into un-served and underserved areas of this region, through sound investment in new infrastructure that will serve the needs of the region today and in the future.  “Connecting Western Massachusetts” is both the title and the mission for the Connects’ work to confirm a commitment for the upfront capital necessary to achieve a robust, future-focused broadband network for the region.  For more information, click here to download a brief summary (137K pdf file).  The proposed Massachusetts Broadband Institute and Incentive Fund reflects the "Connecting Western Massachusetts" proposal presented to the Governor's Administration and legislative delegation over the Spring and Summer of 2007.

The goal of The Underserved Communities Project (UCP) is to develop a long-term, sustainable solution to the problem of underserved communities in Western Massachusetts.  Incorporating findings from the 2006 Pilot Project Study, the UCP proposes the construction of regional fiber assets that would allow for wireless deployment applications to serve residents and businesses. 

A series of Broadband Forums were in Fall/Winter of 2006-2007 with sessions in Berkshire County and the Pioneer Valley.  The first forum, titled "Broadband 101," was held in November 2006 at Greenfield Community College.  The forum provided an overview of telecom technologies and issues that impact underserved communities in Western Massachusetts.  The second forum, titled The Underserved Communities Project" was held in December 2006 at the JFK Middle School in Northampton.  The forum presented the efforts to develop a long-term, sustainable solution as well as short-term activities to address the problem of underserved communities. 

The Board of Health (BOH) Internet Project was the result of a funding opportunity from the Mass. Department of Public Health to regional coalitions of local Boards of Health.  Through this project, 25 local Boards of Health located in underserved communities were provided T-1 internet services for a minimum 12 month period.  The Connects continue their work to support broadband access to all town halls in underserved communities that require reliable, high speed internet telecommunications to perform local public health & safety functions as well as other required government activities.

Webpage last updated on May 8, 2009