Cost the Primary Obstacle to Internet Access in Worcester

A new report funded by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) through Massachusetts ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Funds examines access to information technology in Worcester, and the “capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy, and economy,” which is part of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NOIA) definition of “Digital Equity.” The City of Worcester is a member of the Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program through the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI). The program enables local governments to plan for equitable digital access. The primary barrier to equitable connectivity is affordability, according to the report produced by the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC). That affordability recently decreased with the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The federal pandemic-era program provided a $30 subsidy for internet bills to eligible households, but ended on June 1.