The Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for General Consulting Services (No. 2010-MBI-01). The goal is to pre-qualify firms to provide consulting services to support the goals, activities, and work products of the MBI.

In cooperation with Massachusetts Broadband Institute, the RFP hopes to “solicit responses from firms or teams of firms with experience providing consulting services on the development and operation of broadband infrastructure, writing requests for proposals, outreach and evaluation of industry partners and creating business plans and pricing models.”

WASHINGTON, May 10, 2009 – The Massachusetts Broadband Institute on Wednesday announced that it would work with the MassGIS, the state’s Office of Geographic and Environmental Information, to begin to develop a block-level map of broadband infrastructure.

BOSTON, April 29, 2009 – Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick announced Wednesday his appointment of former MIT researcher and state regulator Sharon Gillett as director of the Massachusetts Broadband Institute. The institute was chartered by Patrick in 2008 with the goal of bringing universal broadband service to state residents by 2011.

January 22, 2009 – Verizon Communications and Free Press agreed that bringing high-speed internet technology to unserved areas of western Massachusetts may result in a monopoly, or a single local telecommunications provider.

WASHINGTON, January 2, 2009 – Congress and the incoming administration of President Obama should include broadband-related investment in the pending legislation designed to promote economic stimulus, and the federal government needs to begin with better data about broadband availability, said Massachusetts government officials.