Healey-Driscoll Administration Grants Over $6.3 Million to Upgrade Public Housing Internet

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. – Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) within the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech) announced $6,326,054 in awards to 3,512 affordable housing units across nine Massachusetts communities. The awards are part of the Residential Retrofit Program, an initiative from MBI that works with housing operators and internet service providers (ISPs) to upgrade broadband infrastructure in public and affordable housing properties. The projects will install modern cabling in each unit, increasing residents’ access to high-quality, reliable and affordable broadband service. 

MBI launched the Retrofit program in February of 2024. The funding comes from the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

“Massachusetts is committed to delivering internet to every resident, especially for low-income residents and communities that have been historically overlooked,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These investments in state-of-the-art infrastructure will ensure affordable and public housing residents can fully participate in essential daily activities and our state’s economy. I’m grateful for the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration and our Congressional delegation to deliver this essential funding to Massachusetts communities.” 

“Ensuring affordable and high-speed connectivity is important to increasing accessibility, expanding opportunities and enhancing the quality of life for our residents,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We thank the Biden-Harris Administration and the U.S. Treasury for making these critical investments in Massachusetts, as these tech upgrades will ensure that public housing residents are on the side of cutting-edge connectivity.” 

This is the second major investment made by MBI with support of the Capital Projects Fund, following the previously announced awards through the Gap Networks Grant Program. The latest round of the Gap Networks Grant Program is working to expand high-speed internet infrastructure across Massachusetts.

“With these new awards, Massachusetts will continue to advance in high-speed internet infrastructure,” said Massachusetts Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao. "We are addressing the very real broadband connectivity challenges that exist in our state by building on these game-changing investments from the federal government.” 

“Today’s investments complement MBI’s existing digital equity programs across the state,” said MBI Director Michael Baldino. “These grants will build upon previous efforts to expand free Wi-Fi in public apartment buildings and digital navigator programs that are helping vulnerable populations get onto the internet safely and with confidence.” 

“The state is working hard to ensure that everyone has the ability to access the internet at home regardless of income, gender or socioeconomic circumstances,” said Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure Quentin Palfrey. “The Retrofit program is expanding access in affordable housing units that need it. Our work to upgrade out of date broadband infrastructure will not only bridge the digital divide but expand economic opportunity for communities across the state.”

The Retrofit grants will cover 100% of the eligible capital costs associated with upgrading the selected properties including:

• Constructing fiber-optic connections in affordable housing buildings  
• Adding smart panels or other in-unit technologies to improve wiring in affordable housing 
• Upgrading other required cabling, such as radio frequency (RF) cables or telecommunications equipment as required by individual building conditions within affordable housing buildings. 

Listed below are the providers and public housing operators receiving awards:

1. Aervivo Inc. ($726,989, Five Project Groups)  

Aervivo Inc.’s Connectivity Platform enables partners to deploy fiber-grade hybrid networks to small and large communities across Massachusetts. In their proposal for the program, Aervivo Inc. offered income-eligible broadband plans of at least 100mbps/100mbps and up to 1,000/1,000mbps within each property they serve. 

2. Comcast Cable Communications Management ($5,099,545, 12 Project Groups)  

Comcast has built and operates one of the largest fiber deployments in the nation. In their proposal, Comcast offered income eligible broadband plans of at least 100mbps/100mbps within each property they serve. 

3. Greenfield Community Energy Technology (GCET) ($499,519, One Project Group)  

Greenfield Community Energy Technology (GCET) is a public organization that provides internet, streaming TV and phone services to the citizens of Greenfield. It is owned by the citizens of Greenfield and governed by a Board of Commissioners that provides oversight for GCET as mandated by the Governor and Massachusetts State Law. In their proposal for the program, GCET offered income eligible broadband plans of at least 100mbps/100mbps and up to 1,000mbps/1,000mbps within each property they serve. 

Housing operators that would like to be considered for participation in the Retrofit program are encouraged to submit an expression of interest through MBI’s online form. Additional rounds of the program will be available in the future. 

About the Massachusetts Broadband Institute at MassTech 

A division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) is working to extend high-speed internet access and availability across the state. To achieve this MBI uses state and federal funding to launch infrastructure expansion programs that target areas of the state that lack high-speed internet access as well as digital equity programs that tackle barriers to internet adoption and increase availability, addressing critical issues around affordability, enhanced public Wi-Fi, the need for internet-enabled devices, and digital literacy training. 

Learn more at https://broadband.masstech.org. 

###