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  "description": "Funding will connect more than 13,700 housing units to reliable, high-speed internet service.",
  "path": "/massachusetts-governors-announce-31-5-million-for-public-housing-internet/",
  "publishedAt": "2025-08-08T19:07:24.000Z",
  "site": "https://broadbandbreakfast.com",
  "tags": [
    "_Residential Retrofit Program_",
    "_****There's a whole community behind your FREE membership...****_",
    "Join the Community!",
    "_said_",
    "Aervivo",
    "Archtop Fiber",
    "CBN-FLX",
    "_U.S. Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund_"
  ],
  "textContent": "WASHINGTON, August 8, 2025 – The governing administration of Massachusetts announced Wednesday $31.5 million in funding to bring reliable, high-speed internet access to residents in affordable and public housing statewide.\n\nPartnering with the Massachusetts Broadband Institute, Governor **Maura Healey** and Lt. Governor **Kim Driscoll** awarded the funds to four internet service providers: Aervivo, Archtop Fiber, Comcast, and Community Broadband Networks FLX.\n\nThe MBI provided the funds through the state’s _Residential Retrofit Program_, which offers grants to qualified ISPs to address inadequate wiring and infrastructure for the purpose of expanding modern internet service.\n\n\n\n_****There's a whole community behind your FREE membership...****_\n\n Join the Community! \n\n“With this funding, we’re making sure low-income residents have the same access to essential services, opportunities, and tools as everyone else, leading to a more connected and advanced economy,” _said_ **Ashley Stolba** , Massachusetts Interim Economic Development Secretary.\n\nThis round of funding – the largest statewide investment in public housing internet yet – will bring reliable, high-speed internet access to more than 13,700 housing units in 60 municipalities across Massachusetts.\n\nResidences will be serviced through the installation of fiber-optic internet infrastructure, customer home-based equipment, and WiFi services, and the upgrades are intended to increase connectivity, reduce cost burdens, and improve digital access for low-income residents.\n\nThe program prioritizes projects in federally designated Qualified Census Tracts and properties with high percentages of deed-restricted affordable housing.\n\n“Public and affordable housing residents deserve the same level of connectivity as everyone else,” said MBI Director **Michael Baldino**. “This funding helps level the playing field and connects families to everything from telehealth to remote learning.”\n\nAervivo, which received $10.5 million and will service 6,402 housing units, utilizes fiber-grade hybrid networks and offers income-eligible broadband plans of at least 100 * 100 Megabits per second and up to 1000 * 1000 Mbps. In their plans for this funding, they will provide devices, Wi-Fi in community areas, optional bulk service rates, and digital skills training.\n\nGranted $481,955 for 164 housing units, Archtop Fiber will also offer Wi-Fi in community areas, open access network services, and bulk service options. Archtop Fiber specializes in acquiring, constructing, and operating modern fiber-optic networks.\n\nCBN-FLX, granted $7,606,664 to cover 1,514 housing units, has committed to maximizing efficiency and cost-effectiveness by leveraging existing public broadband infrastructure assets. They offer such community benefits as free Wi-Fi in common areas, device distribution, and digital literacy courses.\n\nFinally, Comcast was given $12.9 million to serve 5,179 housing units.\n\nThe Residential Retrofit Program itself is funded by the _U.S. Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund_, part of the American Rescue Plan Act. The Capital Projects Fund provides $10 billion to states, territories, freely associated states, and Tribal governments for critical capital projects that enable work, education, and health monitoring – addressing challenges that were exacerbated in rural, Tribal, and low-income communities by the COVID-19 pandemic.",
  "title": "Massachusetts Governor Announces $31.5 Million for Public Housing Internet",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-11T05:48:01.744Z"
}