The Healey-Driscoll Administration and Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) within the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech) announced $6,326,054 in awards to 3,512 affordable housing units across nine Massachusetts communities.

The awards are part of the Residential Retrofit Program, an initiative from MBI that works with housing operators and internet service providers (ISPs) to upgrade broadband infrastructure in public and affordable housing properties. The projects will install modern cabling in each unit, increasing residents’ access to high-quality, reliable and affordable broadband service.

MBI launched the Retrofit program in February of 2024. The funding comes from the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

This is the second major investment made by MBI with support of the Capital Projects Fund, following the previously announced awards through the Gap Networks Grant Program. The latest round of the Gap Networks Grant Program is working to expand high-speed internet infrastructure across Massachusetts.

The Retrofit grants will cover 100% of the eligible capital costs associated with upgrading the selected properties including:

• Constructing fiber-optic connections in affordable housing buildings
• Adding smart panels or other in-unit technologies to improve wiring in affordable housing
• Upgrading other required cabling, such as radio frequency (RF) cables or telecommunications equipment as required by individual building conditions within affordable housing buildings.

Listed below are the providers and public housing operators receiving awards:

1. Aervivo Inc. ($726,989, Five Project Groups)  

Aervivo Inc.’s Connectivity Platform enables partners to deploy fiber-grade hybrid networks to small and large communities across Massachusetts. In their proposal for the program, Aervivo Inc. offered income-eligible broadband plans of at least 100mbps/100mbps and up to 1,000/1,000mbps within each property they serve.

2. Comcast Cable Communications Management ($5,099,545, 12 Project Groups)  

Comcast has built and operates one of the largest fiber deployments in the nation. In their proposal, Comcast offered income eligible broadband plans of at least 100mbps/100mbps within each property they serve.

3. Greenfield Community Energy Technology (GCET) ($499,519, One Project Group)  

Greenfield Community Energy Technology (GCET) is a public organization that provides internet, streaming TV and phone services to the citizens of Greenfield. It is owned by the citizens of Greenfield and governed by a Board of Commissioners that provides oversight for GCET as mandated by the Governor and Massachusetts State Law. In their proposal for the program, GCET offered income eligible broadband plans of at least 100mbps/100mbps and up to 1,000mbps/1,000mbps within each property they serve.

Housing operators that would like to be considered for participation in the Retrofit program are encouraged to submit an expression of interest through MBI’s online form. Additional rounds of the program will be available in the future.