State Legislature Passes Broadband Stimulus Bill

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BOSTON — The state Legislature on Tuesday passed important legislation enabling the state to take full advantage of some $7.2 billion in federal stimulus funds authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for broadband deployment initiatives.

The funding is particularly important to efforts to expand broadband in the many underserved areas in Western Mass., according to information provided by Rep. Denis E. Guyer, D-Dalton, and Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield.

"An Act Relating to Economic Recovery Through Broadband Initiatives in Massachusetts expands on the work the Legislature did last session with the broadband bill that provided $40 million to expand and improve Internet access in unserved and underserved communities, many of which lie within my district," said Guyer, whose crescent-shaped district stretches through the region's hilltowns and farmlands from the Vermont to the New York borders.

Downing, a major proponent of 2008 legislation that established the Massachusetts Broadband Institute, helped to shepherd this stimulus-related proposal through the Senate on Tuesday. The federal funding could double the amount the institute has to work with.

"Passage of this legislation puts Massachusetts in a solid position to gain access to federal funds that will assist MBI with its mission," he said. "Today, reliable broadband service is not considered a luxury — it is a necessity for continued economic development, engaging educational opportunities, higher property values and advanced public safety initiatives.

"Pairing available federal funds with state bond monies will further our efforts to ensure all currently unserved and underserved communities will soon be plugged-in to a reliable high speed Internet connection."

The MBI is tasked with extending affordable high-speed Internet access to all homes, businesses, schools, libraries, medical facilities, government offices and other public places across the state, focusing first on unserved areas. Those areas are primarily in the western and southeast ends of the state.


Unserved areas (red) and  underserved (orange) are primarily in Western Mass.
Downing represents 48 communities in Western Mass., 22 of which are unserved — or completely without access to broadband — as well an additional 15 towns with only partial access to high-speed Internet.

Guyer said the legislation makes a number of changes to meet the federal requirements to put the funds to work "bridging the technology gap so many in Western Massachusetts are faced with."

"In addition to allowing money the Legislature had previously set aside for expanding broadband services, it also makes a crucial project to install fiber-optic lines under the newly reconstructed I-91, an important stepping stone to bringing first-class internet services to Western Massaschusetts," he said.

The broadband stimulus bill is largely a technical proposal with four main components:

Authorization for the MBI to use its fund to acquire indefeasible rights of uses of fiber facilities and Federal Communication Commission licenses.

Clarification that petitions relative to the zoning of a communications or cable facility will be reviewed by the Department of Telecommunications and Cable and petitions relative to all other types of public service facilities will be reviewed by the Department of Public Utilities.

Clarification that the MBI may be exempt from local zoning bylaws or ordinances so long as the MBI is acting within the confines of its essential government functions.

Authorization of a transfer of MassHighway property to the MBI to enable certain broadband initiatives along the I-91 corridor.

Information and updates from the MBI is available at www.massbroadband.org.
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Former Harry's Supermarket Under Construction for Restaurant

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Construction is underway to transform the former Harry's Supermarket into a restaurant

Late last month, the Conservation Commission greenlit some tree pruning on the property. New windows and a new door can be seen in the front of the building. 

"It's a substantial renovation that's currently underway here," Brent White of White Engineering said, speaking on behalf of the applicant and owner, Huajie Zhu. 

A fire gutted the longtime Wahconah Street supermarket in 2023, and the following year, Zhu purchased the property for $460,000 two years ago to build a restaurant with hibachi in the existing footprint of the more than 100-year-old building. 

White explained that the project has been ongoing for over a year, and the Community Development Board granted the property a waiver to reduce the minimum required number of parking spaces so that additional spaces aren't needed.  

He noted that, looking at the site plan, there is very little room to do so. A mirror will be installed near the sharp turn on Bel Air Avenue to alleviate traffic concerns. 

Pruning will be done on trees in the southeast corner of the existing paved parking lot, as a number of branches are hanging over. The new owners also intend to patch, sealcoat, and re-stripe the parking lot. 

A fire tore through the building less than an hour after the supermarket closed for the day three years ago. An automatic sprinkler system is required for the new use. 

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