Residents in a number of communities across the state will soon have access to newly established Wi-Fi hotspots, thanks to a program launched recently in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Massachusetts Broadband Institute at the MassTech Collaborative (MBI) and the state-owned network have been working with local internet service providers to offer new Wi-Fi hotspots to municipalities that lack broadband access, according to a statement from the collaborative.
The hotspot program comes as residents of Franklin County — who depend now more than ever on the internet to work remotely and to stay in touch with loved ones — have noticed slower Wi-Fi service outside of public buildings as people flock to locations for access to internet they don’t have at home.
The free hotspots will be accessible to residents through Sept. 1, according to a statement from MBI.
In Colrain, a Wi-Fi hotspot went live last week at Griswold Memorial Library on Main Road.
“It’s very important for a lot of people who don’t have internet access at their houses,” said Colrain Town Coordinator Kevin Fox.
Although the building itself remains closed, residents will have improved access to Wi-Fi on the library’s premises.
“We’ve had Wi-Fi at the library all along, but this provides more bandwidth … so our residents can do bigger and better things,” he said. “We welcome everybody to take advantage of it, but to be respectful of others because the parking lot is limited.”
In addition to Colrain, Franklin County communities that are part of the program include Hawley, Charlemont, Ashfield, Heath, Leyden, New Salem and Wendell. The hotspots will be launched on a rolling basis over the next few weeks.
Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito announced the program during a COVID-19 briefing on April 22.
“Not every community has similar access to the internet,” Polito said. “In fact, 53 communities are underserved or unserved, in terms of their ability to access the internet through broadband.”
She said access to the internet is especially important during the pandemic, as residents switch to remote work, students adjust to remote learning and everyone is asked to use telehealth services whenever possible.
“In this COVID-19 environment and world, we all know it’s so important for the people who we serve to gain access to the information to be able to keep themselves (and) their families healthy and safe,” she said. “But in areas of the commonwealth, that access through the internet is just not possible, and so, there are gaps. ”
Polito said these Wi-Fi hotspots offer a temporary measure to minimize those gaps.
Lark Thwing said the hotspot program coming to Hawley will be important to its residents, who are realizing now the necessity of adequate internet service for working from home and staying in touch with loved ones.
“People are much more aware of the fact they need access to high-speed internet or broadband,” said Thwing, chair of the four-town broadband committee, who said many residents in town have a satellite internet connection, while others have no connection at all.
He noted Hawley already has its own Wi-Fi hotspot in the Town Office parking lot, though it’s one of a much smaller capacity.
Thwing said the town’s broadband service is in the middle of the second of four phases, the last of which is expected to be completed in early July.
“Timing of this should work out well because we expect to have our wireless network up and ready for anybody to be on it … by the time the program by the state runs out by the first of September,” he said.
Meanwhile, some communities have worked to set up hotspots independently. Towns that are part of the Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont regional school districts, for example, have access to new Wi-Fi hotspots at all school buildings, said Interim Superintendent Pat Bell.
“A lot of families don’t have service in their areas,” Bell said. “It’s a challenge to even come to some of these off-site access sites, but considering the infrastructure does not exist out here, its a challenge to reach kids for online instruction.”
Hotspot locations can be tracked on MBI’s website, broadband.masstech.org/wifi, and towns are expected to provide residents with instructions for accessing them.
Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com.