Last Mile Program News Today

Western Massachusetts lawmakers talk about their long commutes and recent efforts to close the digital divide in the area.

State and local efforts to expand residential broadband to 53 un- and underserved communities have now brought full service to 44 of them and partial services to the others. The state also announced several new initiatives.

Worthington, Mass., is the latest town that has benefited from the Last Mile Program, which is working to bring high-speed Internet to 53 towns. Worthington's network is the result of a public-private partnership.

Massachusetts to designate 4 COVID vaccination days for educators, school staff, child care workers Updated Mar 10, 2021; Posted Mar 10, 2021 People enter a socially distanced line to get their COVID-19 vaccinations at Gillette Stadium, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)AP Facebook Share Massachusetts officials plan to designate four COVID-19 vaccination days for teachers, school staff and child care workers, all of whom become eligible to request a vaccine app...

As educator COVID-19 vaccinations become available, Massachusetts Teachers Association wants to work with state on rollout Updated Mar 03, 2021; With educator vaccinations finally in sight during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Massachusetts Teachers Association is pushing to work with the state on the rollout of inoculations. Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday morning announced that starting March 11, K-12 employees, early childcare workers and school staff will be eligible to sign up to get the COVI...

Broadband concerns put private providers in spotlight Published: 2/18/2021 12:31:45 PM BOSTON — In a pandemic that has forced many aspects of daily life online — from work to school to doctor’s appointments — efforts to build out broadband infrastructure still face challenges, with private providers hesitant to invest in some unserved areas and lawmakers calling for the internet to be treated more like a public service going forward. “There is no way that the state has done enough to ...

Leyden discusses anticipated revenue from broadband network Published: 1/21/2021 3:24:50 PM LEYDEN — The town broadband buildout could produce $300,000 in service revenue in its first year. Speaking before the Selectboard on Tuesday, Andy Killeen, chair of the Leyden Municipal Light Plant and volunteer head of the town’s Broadband Department, said the network’s buildout has continued successfully into 2021. He said the town has about 268 individual locations in town online, with 308 out ...