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Current Projects Regional Broadband Survey - MBI Legislation - Beta Test Program - Regional Readiness Kit - Past Projects
The Connects, in partnership with the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and other state agencies, have launched the Regional Broadband Survey. The purpose of this survey is to gather information about the location of broadband (high speed internet) access in Western Massachusetts and to estimate the market potential for this service. The survey may be completed online or downloaded and mailed. All survey responses are confidential. Responses about physical location will only be used to identify unserved areas and to avoid duplicate survey responses. The deadline for survey responses has been extended to June 30, 2008. Please contact Jessica Atwood at jatwood@frcog.org or 413-774-1194 x101 to have a copy of the survey mailed to you, or to discuss how the survey could be distributed in your community.
Massachusetts Broadband Institute & Incentive Fund On October 18, 2007 Governor Patrick submitted legislation to create the Massachusetts Broadband Incentive Fund and the Massachusetts Broadband Institute. Click on the title to download the original legislation filed in October 2007: "An Act Establishing and Funding the Massachusetts Broadband Institute" (449K pdf). To view an Executive Summary of the legislation and other related documents, go to the MTC's Massachusetts Broadband Initiative webpage. The Connects believe that the filing of the legislation for the creation of the Massachusetts Broadband Institute and Broadband Incentive Fund, and with the support of the local legislators, signifies the start of the next phase for bringing broadband to the unserved areas of this region. For more information about the legislation and to view the Connects submitted testimony, click here. The primary goal of the Beta Test Program is to conduct a one-year test of different wireless broadband technologies in rural New England settings that are typically hostile to this type of equipment. Beta Test Networks have been launched in finite areas of Florida in Berkshire County, New Salem in Franklin County, and Worthington in Hampshire County. The lessons learned from this experience are being documented and will be assembled into a final report. There is considerable value being gained as the Connects learn about what works and what doesn’t work utilizing wireless broadband networks in rural areas – both, in terms of the technology and the implementation. Once completed, the final report will be referenced when exploring possible future wireless broadband networks in the region. View photos of the wireless network technologies and a timeline & update of the project. If you have any questions or comments about the Connect Beta Test Program, please contact Project Manager Maggie Bergin at 413-887-7450 or maggieanne@mac.com.
The purpose of the Regional Readiness Kit is to provide resources to help communities be ready to work with the private sector firms that successfully win the opportunity to serve communities through the Massachusetts Broadband Incentive Fund. The tools and reference materials of this Kit will be posted online for use by local broadband groups and municipal officials.
"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 June 19, 2008 |
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Contact Information Pioneer Valley Connect Address: c/o Franklin Regional Council of Governments, Courthouse, 425 Main Street, Greenfield, MA 01301 Telephone: 413-774-1194 x101 Email: jatwood@frcog.org |
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