Massachusetts Seeks $45 Million in Broadband Funding

WASHINGTON, March 30, 2010 – Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick announced that the state has submitted an application for $45.4 million in federal stimulus funding to expand broadband access in western Massachusetts.

The application, called MassBroadband 123 and submitted by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute, a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, seeks funding under the second round of the U.S. Commerce Department’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program.

“Bringing adequate broadband service to unserved and under-served communities in western Massachusetts has been a priority of my administration from the start,” said the governor.

MassBroadband 123 would build more than 1,338 new miles of fiber-optic cable to connect homes and businesses, as well as community anchor institutions such as community colleges, public safety institutions, hospitals and libraries in a proposed service area covering over one-third of Massachusetts.

In 2008, Patrick signed legislation to direct millions of dollars in capital funding to support broadband expansion projects.  Massachusetts is providing $26.2 million in matching funds in this BTOP application to bring the total investment in the proposed project to $71.6 million.

The application adds to ongoing work to install 55 miles of fiber-optic cable along I-91.