The Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy recently held a public hearing on a list of bills that included H.3527 & S.2318, An Act preserving broadband service for low-income consumers. 

The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative encourages any partners working to promote digital equity among older adults to weigh in with the committee by May 13 using the contact info and bullet points below.

This bill would require Massachusetts internet service providers (ISPs) to offer qualifying low-income households internet service at $15 for 100 Mbps or $20 for 200 Mbps per month. These flat-rate prices must include all taxes and fees and would be available to consumers with household incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level or who receive a federal benefits program.

You can find the flyer here with bullet points to use in a brief letter, which can be submitted via email to Benjamin Minerva at Ben.Minerva@masenate.gov and Caleb Oakes at Caleb.Oakes@mahouse.gov. The deadline to submit written testimony is Tuesday, May 13 by 5:00 p.m. When submitting written testimony, please send it as an attachment and use the following document title format:

Bill# – Your Organization’s Name – Support/Oppose

Additional bullet points that can be the basis for a letter of testimony is available below. Please contact James Fuccione at MHAC if you need assistance or have questions.

• Not asking the legislature to spend money as the bill is asking for for a private-based solution
• Internet access is no longer a luxury.
• With services and staffing being cut due to federal funding cuts, more programs and contacts will be moved online making it imperative that people be able to access the internet if phone or in-person availability is no longer an option
• In a recent survey, 50% of MA respondents found it difficult to pay their internet bill.
• About 368,000 MA households (14%) received help from ACP before it ran out of funds. In some areas, 25% of households were enrolled in ACP. 
• Nearly 1 in 10 MA households don’t have high-speed internet at home.
• High internet costs are the biggest barrier to residents having broadband at home.
• Rural communities across the commonwealth are stuck in a monopoly with their options for Internet companies – in all other instances, the government steps in and ensures that there is equitable access to the internet. 
• The Supreme Court said that states can regulate the Internet. This is a new opportunity to ask internet service providers, who will also benefit from new customers, to pay their fair share in provide equitable, affordable internet. 
• Ensuring Adequate & Equitable Service: Establishing a “minimum download speeds standard to 100 Mbps” ensures that the low-cost option provides genuinely usable high-speed internet, not outdated or insufficient service.
• Hidden Costs Disproportionately & Negatively Affects Low-Income Subscribers: Flat rate with taxes and fees included, ensures transparency and prevents hidden costs from burdening low-income users.
• Access to the Internet is now a necessity for everyday activities and essential for education, employment, leisure, business, public services, civic participation,  and healthcare.
• Rural communities across the commonwealth are stuck in a monopoly with their options for Internet companies – in all other instances, the government steps in and ensures that there is equitable access to the internet.
• There are parts of the state that have insufficient infrastructure and the costs have not been equally distributed. This evens the playing field for communities. 
• The Supreme Court said that states can regulate the Internet. This is a new opportunity to ask internet service providers, who will also benefit from new customers, to pay their fair share in provide equitable, affordable internet.