Posted by marekenn - Sun, Feb 21, 2010, 8:50 P

Broadband update - support needed

From the Western Mass Connect latest update - they are asking people to support their application for a grant to fund fiber installations in Western Mass. The more community support they can demonstrate, the better their chances are to receive a grant. I expect many members of the Hilltown Business Club would benefit from better Internet connectivity, so please see their information on how to respond:

Connect is a non-profit organization with the mission to support the creation of an advanced telecommunications landscape that will provide affordable, reliable and redundant high-capacity broadband services throughout the four counties of western Massachusetts.

Round II Application for Federal Broadband Funding for Western Massachusetts:

Infrastructure
The Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) is actively working on an application for the federal Comprehensive Community Infrastructure grant program that would fund a middle mile fiber network in Western Massachusetts. This second round application will build upon lessons learned from Round I and information gathered from attending a workshop sponsored by the funding authority. An important part of this application is getting letters of support for the application from municipal governments, residents, businesses and institutions. The MBI and Connect are conducting specific outreach to municipal governments. As a resident or a business, it would be greatly appreciated if you would contribute a letter of support as well. Go to www.westernmaconnect.org for address information and to learn more about how to submit a letter. For more information about the MBI's efforts, go to their website at www.massbroadband.org.