MAPC
Smart Growth & Regional Collaboration
Apartment Wi-Fi
In-home broadband access is a key component of digital equity. Access to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet is crucial for residents of Greater Boston to fully participate in work, school, and society. We work with municipalities, public housing authorities, and affordable housing developers to build Wi-Fi networks for their residents.
MAPC has previously worked with housing authorities in Chelsea, Revere, and Quincy as part of a pilot Apartment Wi-Fi project. We have been awarded a grant as part of the Mass. Broadband Institute's (MBI) Digital Equity Partnerships program to continue this work around the state. See below for approved Digital Equity Partnerships apartment Wi-Fi sites.
MAPC and our partners at MBI are now accepting expressions of interest for both the MAPC Apartment Wi-Fi program and MBI's related program, Residential Retrofit. If you have previously entered your information into the MAPC Apartment Wi-Fi interest form, we encourage you to re-submit as all inquiries are now being evaluated for both of these programs in a coordinated intake process.
The MAPC Apartment Wi-Fi program provides funding, project management, and procurement support to fund the construction of Wi-Fi networks which provide residents with equal or superior service than what is available from commercial ISPs, at no cost to residents. Our funding covers all capital costs associated with network design, construction, and equipment, and the first year of ongoing operating expenses.
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LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR APARTMENT WI-FI WORK
Current Work
Apartment Wi-Fi Partners
Previous Work
Contact Us
Contact MAPC Civic Technologist Will Pfeffer at [email protected] for more information.
Other Resources
MBI Digital Equity Partnerships: Apartment Wi-Fi
MAPC has partnered with the Massachusetts Broadband Institute as part of the Digital Equity Partnerships program to expand on the work started during the Gateway Cities Apartment Wi-Fi pilot. We have announced our first cohort of project sites, and will continue to coordinate with the MBI Residential Retrofit program as this program evolves.
Urban Edge, Columbus Ave. Corridor, Boston (884 units, affordable family housing)
Mystic River and Mystic View Apartments, Somerville Housing Authority (455 units, public family housing)
King's Beach Tower, Redwood Housing, Lynn (183 units, affordable senior housing)
North Adams Housing Authority, multiple sites (305 units, family and senior public housing)
Project sites will be evaluated on an ongoing basis for this program; sites listed here represent those that have been approved by the project team as of the last website update.
Apartment Wi-Fi Pilot: Gateway Cities
MAPC partnered with municipalities and housing authorities in Chelsea, Revere, and Quincy to provide free, high-speed internet access to residents. This program served over 450 housing units across three public housing sites. The sites served in this program are:
Prattville Apartments, Chelsea Housing Authority (128 units, public family housing)
Rose St. and Pomona St., Revere Housing Authority (100 units, public family housing)
O'Brien Towers, Quincy Housing Authority (274 units, public senior housing)
Questions?
If you have questions or comments about MAPC's digital equity work, contact Civic Technologist, Will Pfeffer at [email protected].