Baker Administration’s ‘Last Mile’ broadband framework
Boston — The Baker-Polito Administration met with municipal broadband leaders from across Western Massachusetts on Tuesday to discuss a new framework for evaluating and advancing last mile broadband projects in communities unserved or underserved by high-speed internet access. The dialogue centered on a flexible, responsive, and community-based approach to prioritizing affordable and sustainable solutions to the broadband service challenges facing the Commonwealth’s 44 last mile communities.
The Baker-Polito Administration’s new Last Mile project framework sets baseline performance standards for successful Last Mile projects, and empowers communities to develop a range of finance, operation, and technology models for connecting residents to broadband service that meet performance standards.
The Administration’s new leadership team for the Last Mile project, Peter J. Larkin and Bill Ennen, will engage directly with municipalities to develop Last Mile opportunities that unlock reliable, sustainable, and affordable broadband access options.
–E.E.
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Lenox CPC to hold public hearing
Lenox — The Lenox Community Preservation Committee (CPC) will host a public hearing on Monday, May 16, at 6 p.m. at the Lenox Town Hall, 6 Walker St., to obtain community input on funding priorities for future CPC funding cycles.
The public hearing will include a presentation of CPC resources and past projects, and explain the new Lenox CPC timeline for fiscal year 2018 funding opportunities and the revised Lenox CPC application process. Community members are encouraged to review the Lenox CPC Master Plan and to attend the hearing and express their ideas for the types of projects that should be prioritized for future funding.
For more information, contact Land Use Director/Town Planner Gwen Miller at gmiller@townoflenox.com or (413) 637-5500 x6.
–E.E.
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Dalton Master Plan meeting
Dalton — The Dalton Master Plan Steering Committee will present a public information meeting on Wednesday, May 18, at 6:30 p.m. at the Dalton Senior Center in order to review the findings of the Master Plan and the proposed actions.
The Master Plan covers a wide range of topics including the economy, housing, town services, natural resources, and recreation. The meeting will cover some of the challenges the town faces such as rising taxes, declining population, and increasing poverty as well as opportunities such as the proximity to cultural events, affordability of housing, and the Appalachian Trail. Those in attendance will be asked for their input on the key findings and to prioritize the actions they feel are most important to the community. The input received from the public will allow the committee to develop an implementation plan that best represents the views of the community.
For more information, contact Dalton Town Planner Lisa Peltier at daltonpb@bcn.net or Mark Maloy at the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission at mmaloy@berkshireplanning.org.
–E.E.
