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Other Related Projects
Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) & Incentive Fund
The MBI was created through the state broadband legislation that was signed by Governor Patrick on August 4, 2008 in Goshen, Massachusetts. WesternMA Connect strongly supported this legislation and greatly appreciates the work of the Governor and the local legislative delegation for its passage. WesternMA Connect looks forward to supporting the MBI in their work to bring broadband to the unserved areas of this region.
The MBI Board consists of nine directors. Five of these director positions are specifically identified in the MBI legislation, and the remaining four positions were appointed by the Governor on January 14, 2009. His four appointments to the Board included former Pioneer Valley Connect Steering Committee Co-Chairs Linda Dunlavy and Rick Oliveri. Former Berkshire Connect, Inc. President, Donald Dubendorf, serves on the MBI Board due to his position as Chair of the John Adams Innovation Institute Board.
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I-91 ITS & Fiber Conduit Project
On November 6, 2008, MassHighway held a morning ceremony at the MassHighway District 2 Offices in Northampton to celebrate the start of construction for the I-91 Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) & Fiber Conduit Project. This project will create a state-of-the-art fiber optic communications and ITS surveillance system to serve the I-91 corridor that will be operated by MassHighway District 2. In addition, this project will include the installation of additional conduit that will be available for lease to private providers. This conduit is a critical part in creating a more robust telecommunications infrastructure in the region, and will complement statewide efforts to deploy broadband in unserved areas. View construction photos.
WesternMA Connect has strongly advocated for this project and congratulates MassHighway and their partners on this milestone. WesternMA Connect also thanks our federal and state legislative delegation, in particular Congressman Olver, for their strong support of this effort.
Since this project’s inception in 2003, WesternMA Connect board member Linda Dunlavy has been a champion of the tremendous economic development potential of the project, in addition to its transportation and public safety mission. In 2006, WesternMA Connect’s Chief Technology Officer Chip Brodeur and consultant Doug Norton of AccessPlus Communications provided technical expertise to MassHighway regarding design. As this project begins construction and continues to design the remaining segments, WesternMA Connect will support and monitor its progress.
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Board of Heath (BOH) Internet Project
This Project was the result of a funding opportunity from the Mass. Department of Public Health to regional coalitions of local Boards of Health. Through this project, 25 local Boards of Health located in underserved communities were provided T-1 internet services for a minimum 12 month period. WesternMA Connect continues to support broadband access to all town halls in underserved communities that require reliable, high speed internet telecommunications to perform local public health & safety functions as well as other required government activities.
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