GREENFIELD — Linda Dunlavy, executive director of the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, has asked the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) how the $5 million allocation to expand broadband cable to nine “underserved” cable towns is to be used.
Last week, Buckland selectmen expressed concerns about how much money is available to assist Buckland and other Comcast cable towns. At a June 30 MBI board of directors meeting, “up to $4 million” was authorized for negotiations with Comcast to expand broadband service in those nine towns. The board wanted to know if the full $5 million was still available for the build-out.
Dunlavy said she will share the information she receives with town officials as it becomes available.
The $5 million in estimated program costs are designed to cover the full expansion costs over the entire build-out process, which could take years. Also, the money is in capital bond authorization — not in dollars that MBI already has in hand. All money spent by MBI on Last-Mile broadband must go through an authorization process with the state’s Executive Office of Administration & Finance, which reimburses MBI.