State and Industry Leaders Gather to Discuss Digital Divide Solutions through Broadband Access
May 13 2024 - 12:45PM
Business Wire
Elected officials, civic leaders, service providers, and
industry leaders gathered today to discuss solutions for bridging
Massachusetts’ digital divide at the first Massachusetts Broadband
Legislative Summit presented by GoNetspeed. A space created for
in-depth discussion, the Summit focused on opportunities to improve
broadband access throughout the Commonwealth through solutions like
one-touch-make-ready, a process that would allow providers to more
quickly construct networks that deliver broader access to
high-speed internet service.
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Massachusetts Broadband Legislative
Summit presented by GoNetspeed | Jamie Hoare, GoNetspeed Chief
Legal Counsel, Christopher Johnson, Mayor of Agawam, and Jim
Eisenberg, Policy Advisor for PretiStrategies (Photo: Business
Wire)
The Summit kicked off with comments from GoNetspeed’s President
& CEO, Richard Clark, who laid the foundation for the morning’s
conversations. Clark expressed “GoNetspeed wants to bring 100%
fiber internet to Massachusetts and is ready to invest more than
$250 million to do so. To build our infrastructure, providers like
GoNetspeed need improved access to utility poles which is led by
the pole attachment process. Through the introduction of OTMR,
providers would be able to build more network, more quickly to more
underserved areas.”
The Summit also heard from Rep. Angelo Puppolo, Jr., sponsor of
H.3208. Representative Puppolo said that “in recent years, we have
learned that internet is not a luxury. Communities need access to
high-speed options in order to have the ability to compete with
neighboring states and communities. The current state of internet
use is far beyond using it for basic communication. Internet has
become critically important for daily life. Broader access to
internet creates more investment in the state, more jobs, and more
opportunity.”
Following Representative Puppolo’s comments, Senator Adam Gomez,
sponsor of S.2133, said that “in Central Massachusetts, ‘digital
divide’ describes communities that have one, or no high-speed
internet options. Often, underserved communities are those that
need this technology, especially during the pandemic. One of the
ways to improve this is by filing legislation and deploying fiber
optic networks, further providing the means to be successful well
into the future.”
Other speakers included Steve Baker the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts Director of Broadband and Digital Equity, Christopher
Johnson, Mayor of Agawam, Craig Miller, NYSTA President, Jamie
Hoare, GoNetspeed Chief Legal Counsel, and Jim Eisenberg, Policy
Advisor for PretiStrategies. Sessions included discussions on the
status of broadband in Massachusetts, opportunities to bridge the
digital divide, implementation strategies, and more.
More information is available online at
www.gonetspeed.com/broadband-summit.
About GoNetspeed:
GoNetspeed, a high-speed fiber internet provider serving
residential and business customers in Maine, Alabama, Connecticut,
Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and West
Virginia, formed a partnership with Oak Hill Capital (“Oak Hill”)
in January 2021, allowing GoNetspeed to accelerate the expansion of
its fiber network throughout the Northeastern U.S. Adding thousands
of new service areas every year, GoNetspeed is one of the largest
independent internet providers in the east. For more information
about GoNetspeed, or to inquire about service in your residence,
business or community, visit gonetspeed.com.
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Katie Custer 502.821.6784 Katie@RunSwitchPR.com