Public Space Internet Modernization Initiative

The Public Space Internet Modernization Initiative is one of the program areas of the Digital Equity Partnerships Program designed to meet the state's digital equity goals.

The purpose of these projects are to improve the inadequate broadband infrastructure and digital use in public spaces to increase daily use and services. Partners will provide grants to entities that currently, or as a result of broadband improvements could, feature public internet use as a service to users of the space. These entities include libraries, community centers, senior centers, educational facilities, workforce training locations, commercial corridors, or other locations that serve the target populations and can illustrate the need for improved public infrastructure that meets the program’s goals and outcomes.

Partners will work the entities described above to develop a plan and cohesive set of materials/equipment designed to increase users and services available in that space. Partners will support procurement of services and technical architecture/equipment as needed.

Awarded Projects

Lead Grantee	Project Summary
Baystate Health, on behalf of the Western Mass. Alliance for Digital Equity	Project Description: Baystate Health and the Western Mass Alliance for Digital Equity will enable communities to expand access to the internet for residents by providing the necessary hardware to organizations and municipalities seeking to create new or expanded access in publicly-used spaces. Public spaces modernization efforts will be completed through a grantmaking process in partnership with the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. Geographies Served: 101 cities and towns in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire counties are eligible for public spaces modernization grants through the Community Space Public WiFi Program.
City of Boston	Project Description: Wicked Free Wi-Fi is Boston’s outdoor wireless network. Boston residents can use it to find places to shop, eat, or connect with other residents in the City. The City of Boston is using $684,000 to expand the City’s Wicked Free public WiFi network. Geographies Served: Boston
UMass Lowell	Project Description: The University of Massachusetts Lowell will utilize its technical skills, project management resources, and procurement expertise to improve six public facilities with broadband service. Specific locations for public spaces modernization improvements have yet-to-be-determined. Geographies Served: Gateway Cities of Leominster, Fitchburg, Lowell, Haverhill, and Lawrence, as well as many communities of the Merrimack Valley, Northern Worcester County, and the North Shore

Lead Grantee

Project Summary

Baystate Health, on behalf of the Western Mass. Alliance for Digital Equity

Project Description: Baystate Health and the Western Mass Alliance for Digital Equity will enable communities to expand access to the internet for residents by providing the necessary hardware to organizations and municipalities seeking to create new or expanded access in publicly-used spaces. Public spaces modernization efforts will be completed through a grantmaking process in partnership with the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.

Geographies Served: 101 cities and towns in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire counties are eligible for public spaces modernization grants through the Community Space Public WiFi Program.

City of Boston

Project Description: Wicked Free Wi-Fi is Boston’s outdoor wireless network. Boston residents can use it to find places to shop, eat, or connect with other residents in the City. The City of Boston is using $684,000 to expand the City’s Wicked Free public WiFi network.

Geographies Served: Boston

UMass Lowell

Project Description: The University of Massachusetts Lowell will utilize its technical skills, project management resources, and procurement expertise to improve six public facilities with broadband service. Specific locations for public spaces modernization improvements have yet-to-be-determined.

Geographies Served: Gateway Cities of Leominster, Fitchburg, Lowell, Haverhill, and Lawrence, as well as many communities of the Merrimack Valley, Northern Worcester County, and the North Shore