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Lawmakers hear broad coalition on broadband: low‑cost plans and faster permitting needed, stakeholders say
Summary
Representatives, municipal leaders, nonprofit advocates and broadband providers told the Joint Commission that Massachusetts needs both affordable low-income broadband plans and regulatory fixes (pole access/one‑touch make‑ready) to expand reliable service statewide.
Lawmakers on the Joint Commission on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy heard more than two hours of testimony calling for two complementary fixes to Massachusetts' broadband problems: affordable subscription options for low‑income households and faster, predictable permitting and pole-access rules to speed network builds.
Representative Rita Mendez, who filed legislation to preserve broadband service for low‑income consumers, told the committee the bill would create a flat-rate option and urged support so that "people can be able to have access to high speed Internet," calling it an essential service for education, work and health care.
Why it matters: witnesses said federal emergency support such as the Affordable Connectivity Program has ended and…
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