The Massachusetts Broadband Initiative (MBI) made the glum announcement on Jan. 26 that its application for federal stimulus funds had been taken out of the running for the first funding phase. MBI would receive none of the $100 million the group hoped would help bring broadband connectivity to the hilltowns of Western Massachusetts via a public-owned fiber optic network.
"Our commitment to broadband connectivity is unwavering," the MBI statement reads, "and bringing this vital resource to the unserved and underserved regions of western Massachusetts remains one of our highest economic development priorities."
A map on the MBI website labels all Massachusetts communities according to their level of connectivity and consumer choice. Only around Boston are the towns and cities a dark blue, indicating that broadband options are competitive and connected. Most of the east is colored a light blue, served by a duopoly. There are pockets of yellow (served by monopoly) and orange (underserved) on the north and south shores, but as you go west, the colors grow positively autumnal. Red peeps out all along the hills between the Pioneer Valley and the Berkshires, signifying a nearly uninterrupted stretch of communities from north to south that have no broadband service whatsoever.
As reported by the Daily Hampshire Gazette, representatives from MBI and its parent organization, the Massachusetts Technological Collaborative, sounded contrite about the loss of the hoped-for funding at a municipal forum held at Northampton High School last week. But they were quick to remind residents that only a third of the total funds allocated were spent in the first phase. While hopeful as they prepare to resubmit for the second phase in March, they aren't taking any chances. They will be "attending workshops and working with consultants to determine what is desirable in a winning application," Judith Dumont, the MBI's director, said.
A Powerpoint slideshow presented at the forum and available as a PDF on MBI's website details a more comprehensive, long-term approach to meeting its goals (www.massbroadband.org).
Currently, physical Internet access is provided via three basic methods: copper cable (telephones and digital subscriber lines, or DSL), coaxial cable (cable television and cable broadband), and now fiber optic cabling, which promises even greater speeds. Those who have fast Internet access in the hilltowns use DSL. Coaxial cable networks were built by private companies where they believed there would be a return on their investment, and it's unlikely the hilltowns will ever grow so big that a cable company would see them as a source of profit.
The same is true of installing fiber optics—it would never be profitable for a private company to set up such a network. If rural localities are going to get broadband access, it will likely need to be a public option that brings it to them. Right now, fiber is the technology that has the greatest potential for speed improvements and long-term reliability.
There are three stages to building a network between the World Wide Web itself and a business or home at the other end. First is a hub which has a strong enough connection to the Web to sustain thousands of customers tapping into their access point; such an Internet Point of Presence (POP) exists at 1 Federal Street in Springfield. From this trunk, thick fiber optic limbs stretch out up into the Pioneer Valley, often following the roadways, and this second section is known as the backbone or middle mile.
The Five Colleges already have a fiber optic backbone that loops through the member institutions, and this summer will see the completion of another backbone that runs along Interstate 91. While these middle mile efforts are of some use to the institutions that are physically close to the fiber optic cable, they're useless to everyone else.
The final networking infrastructure that brings the cabling from the "middle mile" to homes and businesses is known as the "last mile" part of the project. As with copper telephone lines and coaxial cable television, these lines would be strung along streets, all connecting to a local hub on a middle mile network.
The funds MBI had applied for would have gone toward building more of the middle mile that reached up into the hilltowns, as well as some funds for last mile projects: actually connecting people to the Web.
According to Fierce Broadband Wireless columnist Lynetta Luna, the government institutions deciding on who gets the stimulus awards rejected nearly 1,400 applicants. They only accepted 14, "and the majority are middle-mile projects." She concludes this is because such projects are "the safe and conservative bet."
Middle mile projects lay down infrastructure for a bigger network without actually connecting the underserved or breaking up monopolies.
Last mile projects that actually connect people require maintenance and an infrastructure to support them: when something goes wrong, who do you call? For most utilities, private companies make their living providing this service, but who would assume such a role on a publicly funded project still remains very much up in the air.
Massachusetts Broadband Initiative hopes that funding for such systems will come from bonds, and communities will either offer broadband as a utility for taxpayers or will partner with local private businesses to offer service. Hopefully subscribers would have a selection of options from which to choose. The forum at the high school was intended to start getting municipalities to understand the role they might one day be asked to assume. More such forums will be held this spring throughout the region.
How soon any of this will make a difference for those living any distance from the Five Colleges or I-91 depends on funding options, but as long as funds only go to infrastructure and there isn't the courage and leadership to actually connect the underserved by going the last mile, help will be stymied indefinitely.
In order to map Internet usage in the state, MBI has a survey they encourage residents and businesses to fill out: www.massbroadband.org/mapping/survey.html.
