Quincy, MAPC, MBI Launch Free Wi-Fi Program for O’Brien Tower Residents
The internet service is one component of a citywide initiative to address technological needs
Aug. 22, 2025 - The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), the City of Quincy, and the Quincy Housing Authority celebrated the launch of a local “Apartment Wi-Fi” program to increase access to affordable and reliable high-speed internet for residents of Quincy.
The organizations worked together to procure, contract, and implement a solution that provides free internet access to all residents in O’Brien Towers, located at 73 Bicknell Street in the Germantown section of Quincy, 274 apartments for seniors and people with disabilities. Funding for the program was provided by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) at MassTech from the state’s Economic Recovery program.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the digital divide and showed that internet access is no longer a luxury. Many vital services, from education and healthcare to civic engagement, now exist mostly online, and thus having the means to access the internet is a necessity. In February 2025, MAPC and Quincy’s Department of Community Technology Integration, and Support published the City’s first Digital Equity Plan; while most Quincy residents possess high-speed home internet access, modern computing devices, and digital skills, too many of the city’s most vulnerable still lack the resources and support needed to fully participate in modern online life, experiencing what is known as the “digital divide.” The Digital Equity Plan was supported by the MBI at the MassTech Collaborative.
“Digital access is vital for every member of our community, and I’m exceptionally grateful to partners at MAPC and Quincy Housing for working so hard over many months to make this project a reality,” said Mayor Koch. “I especially wish to thank CTIS Director John Cain for all of his efforts and advocacy throughout the community in bridging that digital divide.
The O’Brien Towers program is one of a number of initiatives led by Cain to increase digital accessibility, including training sessions for more than 500 residents to date, the development of apprenticeship programs, further technology upgrades in Quincy Housing facilities, and cybersecurity training.
“We’re thrilled to have been able to work with the City of Quincy throughout the digital equity planning process, and now, directly increasing access to a vital resource at O’Brien Towers,” said MAPC Acting Executive Director Lizzi Weyant. “We work with our municipalities to offer tangible recommendations and develop foundations for program implementation, and it’s deeply rewarding to see projects like this one come to fruition. We look forward to our ongoing work with Quincy and the opportunity to collaborate with neighboring municipalities through regional strategies in digital equity service delivery.”
"By deploying Wi-Fi in apartments, the City of Quincy will ensure more of its residents have the internet connectivity required to apply for jobs, enroll in educational opportunities and access critical services among other pursuits,” said Massachusetts Broadband Institute Program Executive Jody Jones.
Through the Apartment Wi-Fi program, MAPC works with municipalities, public housing authorities, and affordable housing developers to build Wi-Fi networks for their residents. The program provides funding, project management, and procurement support to fund the construction of Wi-Fi networks, which provide residents with equal or superior services than what is available from commercial ISPs, at no cost to residents. Funding covers all capital costs associated with network design, construction, and equipment, and the first year of ongoing operating expenses.
Digital equity plays a crucial role in several action areas laid out in MetroCommon 2050, Greater Boston’s regional land use and policy plan. MAPC has been prequalified by MBI as a digital equity planning consultant. As part of MBI's Municipal Digital Equity Planning program, municipalities (or groups of municipalities) can apply to receive a digital equity plan or planning charrette at no cost to the municipality.
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