Growing up, I remember friends and family who lived in towns like Florida and Savoy saying how slow and terrible the internet service was. But now that's finally changed after more than two decades, thanks to new funding.
With the internet more essential than it was over 20 years ago, Charter Communications, well known as Spectrum, which provides high-speed internet for the majority of Berkshire County residents, announced in 2021 that it had been awarded funding through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to connect a portion of the homes in Florida and Savoy.
How The Program Works
The Berkshire Eagle reports that in 2023, the Massachusetts Broadband Institute initiated the Gap Networks Program, supported by funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, to enhance broadband availability across the state.
The program has allocated $45 million in grants, including $5.7 million awarded to Charter to develop broadband infrastructure in Florida, Savoy, Hawley, and Monroe. Of this, $2.4 million will be dedicated to providing service to approximately one-third of the homes in Florida and Savoy that were not previously covered by RDOF funding.
The program allocates funds to providers, including Charter, to install last-mile fiber connections to residences in difficult terrain and sparsely populated regions. Spectrum is required to serve almost all homes in Florida, Monroe, Hawley, and Savoy by the end of 2026 to comply with the ARPA funding deadline.
Read More: Why Headlight Glare At Night Is Getting Worse For Most Drivers
Residents Relied On Satellite For Many Years
While waiting for fiber connections, many nearby residents opted for SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet, which employs low-Earth orbit satellites to deliver broadband directly to user terminals on the ground. However, in practice, it doesn't offer the same speed and reliability as fiber and tends to be more expensive.
But now that has all changed for the better. Let us know what your experience is if you're a Florida, Savoy, Hawley, or Monroe resident through our app.
