July 13, 2024 • 9 mins
We're far gone from the days of dial-up internet, and you'd think that everyone here in Massachusetts has access to reliable, high-speed broadband connections for work, play, and school. Unfortunately, that's not the case, but there is a new effort to get more information about where those gaps are around the Commonwealth. Jody Jones, the Senior Program Director at the Massachusetts Broadband Institute at the MassTech Collaborative talks with Nichole about the importance of closing the "digital divide", and shares information about their new portal where you can weigh in on access.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:07):
From WBZ News Radio in Boston.This is New England Weekend, where each
and every week we come together righthere we talk about all the topics important
to you and the place where youlive. It's so good to be back
with you again this week. I'mNicole Davis. Well, depending on how
old you are listening to this show, you might very well remember the days
of dial up Internet where you hadto sit there, listen to that screechy
(00:29):
noise and then hope somebody didn't pickup the phone because it took twenty minutes
to download a photo. It reallyhasn't been all that long in the grand
scheme of things, but it feelslike an eternity for most of us who
rely on broadband Internet every day forwork, school, gaming, or whatever
else you do online. Not everybodyhere in Massachusetts, though, has access
to that high speed connection. There'sa new effort from the Massachusetts Broadband Institute
(00:51):
to close what they call the digitaldivide. Jody Jones is the senior program
director at MBI and joins us nowto talk about this. Jo thank you
so much for being here. So, what exactly is this digital divide?
Yeah? Thanks to Cole so thedigital divide something we think about all the
time at Mass Broadband Institute. Wethink about the digital divide as something a
term that describes the gap between thosewho have reliable, affordable Internet available to
(01:18):
them and those who don't. Okay, so why is it important then for
everybody to have access to broadband?I mean, there are some parts of
the state that obviously are not goingto be as connected as others. Why
is it such a big deal tomake sure everybody has it? Yeah?
MBI is very focused on three areaswhen it comes to broadband adoption, availability,
adoption, and then quality of service. And we think about internet access.
(01:42):
We know it's essential to participation intoday's economy. You can't take online
courses, you need it for applyingfor jobs, to access government services,
really to do all activities in modernlife. And so we know it's essential,
and we know it's necessary for everybodyto have the Internet available and to
have it affordable. Sure. Sothen which parts of the state right now
(02:05):
do you feel over at Mass BroadbandInstitute are more lacking in connectivity? I
guess we'll say than others. Yeah, so Massachusetts, as compared to states
across the country, we're in apretty good position. So about ninety ninety
percent of locations and Massachusetts are coveredand have the Internet available, but we
still know that pockets remained. Sothere's areas both in rural locations and also
(02:28):
urban areas that still are unserved orunderserved, meaning they don't have reliable access
to one hundred over twenty megabits persecond Internet speeds. It's really across the
state, and there's in different areasterrains from hilly areas in the state as
well as island areas that don't haveconnectivity. Okay, and then let's talk
(02:49):
about those challenges too, because youbrought up a really good point terrain.
I mean in the mountains. Iremember growing up in the mountains of New
Hampshire. We didn't even have cableinternet until I think I was eighteen or
nineteen years old. I'm much olderthan that now. So it takes some
time and it takes some money andenergy. But tell us about the challenges
getting these areas connected. Yeah,so one of the biggest challenges is just
understanding exactly where the pockets are.So we have a program right now called
(03:15):
the BAD Program Broadband Equity Access andDeployment, which is run through the NTIA.
It's one hundred and forty seven milliondollar program and we're in the throes
of a challenge process right now whereit's an opportunity for the public to tell
us where those locations are. Soi'd say that one of the first line
challenges that we're up against is toidentify where these locations are. So we're
(03:36):
in the thick of it right nowtrying to identify locations that still need Internet
access. And you're doing that,by the way, with the help of
this new portal called How's Your Internet? So tell us about the portal and
how it all came together and wherethe idea came from. Yeah, So,
How's Your Internet is the landing pageand site that we've set up to
help us with the challenge process toreally make it available and accessible to everyone
(03:58):
across the commonwealth. So we've setup this page howser Internet dot org and
when you go on there, there'sa broadband map for the state that's been
published where folks can type in anaddress and check out what they're if their
location is considered served or underserved onthe map, and if it's underserved,
it would mean it's available to havefuture funding for broadband. So these designations
(04:20):
of served, underserved, and unservedare really important because they impact eligibility for
funding. Yeah, let's talk aboutthat funding, by the way, because
you recently announced forty five million dollarsaround the state for this program called Gap
Networks. So what is GAP Networks? Is it different than beid kind of
break that down for us a bit. Yeah. Yeah, So we're in
(04:41):
a special moment for broadband right nowbecause the federal government has recently made a
lot of investments in broadband. Thisfollows on a lot of investments that were
made at the state level in Massachusettsin the past ten years by the Baker
administration now the Heallyy administration. Butwe have two infrastructure program that we're running.
So you just mentioned the Gap Networksprogram. That's a program funded through
(05:04):
the US Department of Treasury and it'shelping us to get to all of those
gaps around the state. Following theGap Networks program, and we recently made
grants to forty one towns in thestate through that Gap Networks program, So
that's active and running. On theheels of that will be the broadwand Equity
(05:24):
Access and Deployment feed program, whichis another infrastructure program that will address any
locations that are not handled by theGAP program. So we're running these two
programs in tandem, and we're reallyhopeful and optimistic that we will achieve universal
service once we run through these programs, getting to one hundred percent of locations
in the state. And what's yourvision for a timeline for that. Are
(05:46):
you hoping in the next two years, five years, ten years, or
is it still too early to reallyknow. Yeah, So, infrastructure programs,
as you'd likely know, they dotake time. They each federal program
has different timelines. So for theGap net Works program, that's going to
be we need substantial completion of thoseof those projects by the end of twenty
twenty six. The BAD program hasa longer timeline, so those definitive end
(06:11):
dates haven't been set, but they'regoing to be after twenty twenty six,
so we'll be This is going tobe a long term commitment to achieving universal
service at our state, and it'sa much needed commitment. And then,
of course, my other question isyou can have the service in place,
but you might not be able toafford it, you might not be able
to get to it. So whatprograms are in place that are offered for
people who are low income or possiblyyou know, homeless or otherwise that need
(06:34):
to get connected but just can't affordit. Right, So, we talked
to the beginning of the interview aboutthe challenges of identifying the locations. Then
we have the issue of funding,which we're adjusting through the programs. Another
issue is the challenge of once peoplehave the Internet available, are they able
to afford it, are they ableto access it and use it in their
(06:56):
daily life? Do they have thedigital literacy skills to do that. Master
Chuset's Broadband Institute is running digital equityprograms currently. So we have a program
called the Digital Equity Partnerships Program wherewe've invested more than forty million dollars to
support organizations around the state. Organizationslike the City of Boston and New mass
Lowell Metropolitan Area Planning Council, andthese organizations are helping to address digital equity,
(07:24):
meaning literacy populations that need help understandinghow to use devices or how to
work online. This is addressing WiFi in public spaces, making sure that
multi unit buildings in low income neighborhoodshave internet available to them, and affordability
programs, and then also programs foreconomic hardship and device distribution, and then
(07:45):
education adoption and outreach. So we'retrying, we are taking an three hundred
and sixty degree approach to trying totackle this problem, from the infrastructure to
the programming to the people. Weare investing making investments across the full spectrum.
So then how can people again,just to wrap this up, remind
us where people can find the portalto check on their Internet service and tell
(08:07):
you if they don't have service,and where people can find out more about
the work you're doing in the Badprogram, the Gap program, everything at
MBI. Yeah, so the MassachusettsBroadband Institute has a great website that has
information about all of these. Youcan also go to Houseyerinternet dot org and
that will take you to the portal. This program is called the Bad Challenge
(08:28):
Process. So that those are thekeywords you'd want to look at, but
the portal is available for anyone togo and access. You can see in
your neighborhood, what locations that youknow, both your home and locations in
your in your neighborhood if they're consideredserved or underserved. So engagement with the
process is definitely the first step andwhat we're encouraging folks to do, and
(08:50):
then we'll be publishing maps down theline as we do these programs to stay
stay connected with communities and make surethat we're getting to all corners of the
state. Love that all right,So Jody, thank you so much for
your time and thanks for your workin trying to get us all connected.
Yes, thanks for having me,and that is the end of the show.
Thanks again so much for joining methis week, and hey, please
(09:11):
have a safe and healthy weekend andjoin me again next week for another edition
of the show. I'm Nicole Davisfrom WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio.
From WBZ News Radio in Boston.This is New England Weekend, where each
and every week we come together righthere we talk about all the topics important
to you and the place where youlive. It's so good to be back
with you again this week. I'mNicole Davis. Well, depending on how
old you are listening to this show, you might very well remember the days
of dial up Internet where you hadto sit there, listen to that screechy
(00:29):
noise and then hope somebody didn't pickup the phone because it took twenty minutes
to download a photo. It reallyhasn't been all that long in the grand
scheme of things, but it feelslike an eternity for most of us who
rely on broadband Internet every day forwork, school, gaming, or whatever
else you do online. Not everybodyhere in Massachusetts, though, has access
to that high speed connection. There'sa new effort from the Massachusetts Broadband Institute
(00:51):
to close what they call the digitaldivide. Jody Jones is the senior program
director at MBI and joins us nowto talk about this. Jo thank you
so much for being here. So, what exactly is this digital divide?
Yeah? Thanks to Cole so thedigital divide something we think about all the
time at Mass Broadband Institute. Wethink about the digital divide as something a
term that describes the gap between thosewho have reliable, affordable Internet available to
(01:18):
them and those who don't. Okay, so why is it important then for
everybody to have access to broadband?I mean, there are some parts of
the state that obviously are not goingto be as connected as others. Why
is it such a big deal tomake sure everybody has it? Yeah?
MBI is very focused on three areaswhen it comes to broadband adoption, availability,
adoption, and then quality of service. And we think about internet access.
(01:42):
We know it's essential to participation intoday's economy. You can't take online
courses, you need it for applyingfor jobs, to access government services,
really to do all activities in modernlife. And so we know it's essential,
and we know it's necessary for everybodyto have the Internet available and to
have it affordable. Sure. Sothen which parts of the state right now
(02:05):
do you feel over at Mass BroadbandInstitute are more lacking in connectivity? I
guess we'll say than others. Yeah, so Massachusetts, as compared to states
across the country, we're in apretty good position. So about ninety ninety
percent of locations and Massachusetts are coveredand have the Internet available, but we
still know that pockets remained. Sothere's areas both in rural locations and also
(02:28):
urban areas that still are unserved orunderserved, meaning they don't have reliable access
to one hundred over twenty megabits persecond Internet speeds. It's really across the
state, and there's in different areasterrains from hilly areas in the state as
well as island areas that don't haveconnectivity. Okay, and then let's talk
(02:49):
about those challenges too, because youbrought up a really good point terrain.
I mean in the mountains. Iremember growing up in the mountains of New
Hampshire. We didn't even have cableinternet until I think I was eighteen or
nineteen years old. I'm much olderthan that now. So it takes some
time and it takes some money andenergy. But tell us about the challenges
getting these areas connected. Yeah,so one of the biggest challenges is just
understanding exactly where the pockets are.So we have a program right now called
(03:15):
the BAD Program Broadband Equity Access andDeployment, which is run through the NTIA.
It's one hundred and forty seven milliondollar program and we're in the throes
of a challenge process right now whereit's an opportunity for the public to tell
us where those locations are. Soi'd say that one of the first line
challenges that we're up against is toidentify where these locations are. So we're
(03:36):
in the thick of it right nowtrying to identify locations that still need Internet
access. And you're doing that,by the way, with the help of
this new portal called How's Your Internet? So tell us about the portal and
how it all came together and wherethe idea came from. Yeah, So,
How's Your Internet is the landing pageand site that we've set up to
help us with the challenge process toreally make it available and accessible to everyone
(03:58):
across the commonwealth. So we've setup this page howser Internet dot org and
when you go on there, there'sa broadband map for the state that's been
published where folks can type in anaddress and check out what they're if their
location is considered served or underserved onthe map, and if it's underserved,
it would mean it's available to havefuture funding for broadband. So these designations
(04:20):
of served, underserved, and unservedare really important because they impact eligibility for
funding. Yeah, let's talk aboutthat funding, by the way, because
you recently announced forty five million dollarsaround the state for this program called Gap
Networks. So what is GAP Networks? Is it different than beid kind of
break that down for us a bit. Yeah. Yeah, So we're in
(04:41):
a special moment for broadband right nowbecause the federal government has recently made a
lot of investments in broadband. Thisfollows on a lot of investments that were
made at the state level in Massachusettsin the past ten years by the Baker
administration now the Heallyy administration. Butwe have two infrastructure program that we're running.
So you just mentioned the Gap Networksprogram. That's a program funded through
(05:04):
the US Department of Treasury and it'shelping us to get to all of those
gaps around the state. Following theGap Networks program, and we recently made
grants to forty one towns in thestate through that Gap Networks program, So
that's active and running. On theheels of that will be the broadwand Equity
(05:24):
Access and Deployment feed program, whichis another infrastructure program that will address any
locations that are not handled by theGAP program. So we're running these two
programs in tandem, and we're reallyhopeful and optimistic that we will achieve universal
service once we run through these programs, getting to one hundred percent of locations
in the state. And what's yourvision for a timeline for that. Are
(05:46):
you hoping in the next two years, five years, ten years, or
is it still too early to reallyknow. Yeah, So, infrastructure programs,
as you'd likely know, they dotake time. They each federal program
has different timelines. So for theGap net Works program, that's going to
be we need substantial completion of thoseof those projects by the end of twenty
twenty six. The BAD program hasa longer timeline, so those definitive end
(06:11):
dates haven't been set, but they'regoing to be after twenty twenty six,
so we'll be This is going tobe a long term commitment to achieving universal
service at our state, and it'sa much needed commitment. And then,
of course, my other question isyou can have the service in place,
but you might not be able toafford it, you might not be able
to get to it. So whatprograms are in place that are offered for
people who are low income or possiblyyou know, homeless or otherwise that need
(06:34):
to get connected but just can't affordit. Right, So, we talked
to the beginning of the interview aboutthe challenges of identifying the locations. Then
we have the issue of funding,which we're adjusting through the programs. Another
issue is the challenge of once peoplehave the Internet available, are they able
to afford it, are they ableto access it and use it in their
(06:56):
daily life? Do they have thedigital literacy skills to do that. Master
Chuset's Broadband Institute is running digital equityprograms currently. So we have a program
called the Digital Equity Partnerships Program wherewe've invested more than forty million dollars to
support organizations around the state. Organizationslike the City of Boston and New mass
Lowell Metropolitan Area Planning Council, andthese organizations are helping to address digital equity,
(07:24):
meaning literacy populations that need help understandinghow to use devices or how to
work online. This is addressing WiFi in public spaces, making sure that
multi unit buildings in low income neighborhoodshave internet available to them, and affordability
programs, and then also programs foreconomic hardship and device distribution, and then
(07:45):
education adoption and outreach. So we'retrying, we are taking an three hundred
and sixty degree approach to trying totackle this problem, from the infrastructure to
the programming to the people. Weare investing making investments across the full spectrum.
So then how can people again,just to wrap this up, remind
us where people can find the portalto check on their Internet service and tell
(08:07):
you if they don't have service,and where people can find out more about
the work you're doing in the Badprogram, the Gap program, everything at
MBI. Yeah, so the MassachusettsBroadband Institute has a great website that has
information about all of these. Youcan also go to Houseyerinternet dot org and
that will take you to the portal. This program is called the Bad Challenge
(08:28):
Process. So that those are thekeywords you'd want to look at, but
the portal is available for anyone togo and access. You can see in
your neighborhood, what locations that youknow, both your home and locations in
your in your neighborhood if they're consideredserved or underserved. So engagement with the
process is definitely the first step andwhat we're encouraging folks to do, and
(08:50):
then we'll be publishing maps down theline as we do these programs to stay
stay connected with communities and make surethat we're getting to all corners of the
state. Love that all right,So Jody, thank you so much for
your time and thanks for your workin trying to get us all connected.
Yes, thanks for having me,and that is the end of the show.
Thanks again so much for joining methis week, and hey, please
(09:11):
have a safe and healthy weekend andjoin me again next week for another edition
of the show. I'm Nicole Davisfrom WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio.
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