Broadband Bill Unanimously Passes House
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The measure was approved 144-0 on Monday afternoon. Rep. Denis E. Guyer, D-Dalton, earlier filed an amendment raising the bond bill's funding to $40 million.
"The additional $15 million in funding will allow us to reach further in our efforts to provide broadband access to both unserved and underserved communities, rather than having to choose one or the other," said Guyer in a statement. "This is incredibly important for my constituents and the commonwealth as a whole."
Many of the communities Guyer represents have no access to high-speed Internet.
The bond bill was unveiled last August by Gov. Deval Patrick as a way to encourage investment in broadband capacity in rural and suburban areas.
The legislation would create a broadband incentive fund for developing public and private partnerships to invest in broadband infrastructure tools like conduits, fiber and wireless towers. The fund would be managed by a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.
Some 32 communities statewide have little or no Internet access, primarily in Western Massachusetts. Other regions are locked into monopolies with no choice of provider.
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Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams, a strong proponent of the measure and House chairman of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, called the limited access to broadband "a detriment not only to those individual communities but to the state as a whole."
"Every day that they don't have access, we're losing the ability to cultivate our state's greatest asset – the ingenuity, creativity, and motivation of the state's residents," said Bosley in a statement. "I am very happy that the House has made such a strong commitment."
Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, D-Lenox, said, "This is great news for our state. This is important for my district and the western part of the state in general. I share my colleagues excitement and look forward to a speedy implementation."
The bill awaits action in the Senate before being sent to the governor's desk. State Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, is also a strong backer of the measure.
