January 2017
MBI’s MB123 Middle Mile and Why it is a Hindrance to a Regional Broadband Network
Published as a My Turn article in the Greenfield : The Greenfield Recorder, David Dvore, My Turn/Dvore: Where is the broadband?, January 23, 2017 What happens when you put lawyers and politicians in charge of a project that requires business and technical expertise? MBI, Massachusetts Broadband Institute, was created in 2008 by emergency legislation that allocated [...]
Legal Notes Regarding Regional MLP Operation and Collaboration
Below is a legal opinion regarding the re-organization of the WiredWest MLP Coop as a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC). In brief, it finds that the WiredWest MLP Coop may function as an LLC. There is some follow-up email correspondence with Duncan & Allen regarding MLP operation and collaboration posted below the document. After that, there is [...]
2017 New Years Message, Steps Forward from WiredWest
With the start of the new year, we want to thank your supporters and share with you our new plans for moving forward in 2017. As you may know, in late 2015 Governor Baker placed a ‘pause’ on all state Last Mile Broadband projects. In May 2016 the Baker Administration lifted the ‘pause’ and named [...]
December 2016
Suggested Resolution on Regional Broadband
Dear Delegate: The letter and accompanying resolution below has been sent to all town leaders. We urge you to meet with your Selectboard and urge them to consider passing the resolution. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dear Town Leader: The years-long effort [...]
The State Should Work with WiredWest on a Regional Plan
MBI was initially funded and created by emergency legistlation in 2008 with a mandate to bring broadband internet service to all 45 unserved communities. Instead, they spent $80M building the MB123 middle mile to 123 communities which they claimed would attract private companies to finish the last mile. It never did and now is a hindrance to [...]
November 2016
October 2016
Broadband effort gets back on track
By Steve Nelson (reprinted from Berkshire Eagle, Broadband effort gets back on track, October 12, 2016 ) You will soon see work crews standing around utility poles, gazing upward. They'll not only be checking the cables on those poles, but looking as well toward the future of broadband in western Massachusetts. The long-awaited project to bring high-speed internet [...]