Broaden access for broadband

[Commentary] Much as the federal government assisted in rural electrification decades ago, lighting the way to progress, now the government must help bring broadband Internet service to Western Massachusetts. The region has lagged behind the rest of the state in this crucial component of economic development. Providing broadband to the 43 Western Massachusetts towns that lack it entirely or in part could kickstart the economy of a region that has suffered from the decline of basic industries like paper and electrical equipment. According to federal figures, communities with broadband add a percentage point to their employment growth rate. Rural areas in this state and elsewhere lack broadband service for the same reason they were slow to get electricity: The return on investment for private providers is slow when houses and businesses are few and far between. A private company would need 30 years just to break even on broadband investment in a rural area. The state should do whatever it can to move its western counties out of the breakdown lane of the information superhighway.