Berkshire County Public Housing Benefits From Internet Access Grants

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Healey-Driscoll administration and Massachusetts Technology Collaborative's (MassTech) Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) awarded $31,548,018 to four internet service providers (ISPs) to increase internet access for affordable and public housing residents statewide. 
 
Aervivo Inc. was awarded $10,527,014 for 6,402 housing units. This uncludes 30 units in Pittsfield through the Beacon Residential Management Limited Partnership and 30 units in Williamstown through the Williamstown Housing Authority.
 
Archtop Fiber LLC was awarded $481,955 for 164 housing units. Through the Great Barrington Housing Authority, 31 housing units in Great Barrington, 30 housing units in Sheffield, and 50 units in Housatonic will benefit.
 
53 units in Stockbridge will also be impacted through the Stockbridge Housing Authority.
 
This round of grant funding will modernize internet access in more than 13,700 housing units across Massachusetts, including the installation of fiber-optic or CAT6 internet infrastructure, customer home-based equipment, and Wi-Fi service to residences in 60 municipalities across the state. The upgrades aim to increase connectivity, reduce cost burdens and improve digital access for low-income residents. 
 
"This program is about enhancing broadband connectivity for residents statewide," said Massachusetts Interim Economic Development Secretary Ashley Stolba. "With this funding, we're making sure low-income residents have the same access to essential services, opportunities, and tools as everyone else, leading to a more connected and advanced economy."
 
The Residential Retrofit Program is funded by U.S. Treasury's Capital Projects Fund through the American Rescue Plan Act. The program prioritizes projects in federally designated Qualified Census Tracts and properties with high percentages of deed-restricted affordable housing.

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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.
 
This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.
 
The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.
 
DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.
 
"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths. 
 
"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."
 
Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.
 
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