Archtop Fiber is on a mission to bridge the digital divide — and momentum is building. Fresh off the heels of securing nearly $200 million in new capital from Monroe Capital to fuel its aggressive Northeast expansion, Archtop is also seeing public investment align with its mission to deliver reliable, high-speed fiber Internet to underserved communities.
As part of that public-private synergy, the Healey-Driscoll administration and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s (MassTech) Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) recently announced $10.4 million in grants to upgrade Internet access in nearly 8,000 public and affordable housing units across 26 Massachusetts communities. Archtop Fiber is proud to be named among the grant recipients — a testament to the company’s growing impact and continued commitment to connectivity for all.
Nearly 8,000 Households to Get High-Speed Internet
The grants will affect nearly 8,000 public and affordable housing units across 26 Massachusetts communities as part of the Residential Retrofit Program. Through the program, Internet service providers like Archtop collaborate with housing operators to upgrade broadband infrastructure in public and affordable housing units. As a recipient, Archtop will install its state-of-the-art fiber at each housing unit it serves, bringing high-quality, reliable and affordable broadband service.
“The internet is an essential tool for participating in today’s economy and we are committed to expanding access to every region of the state,” Gov. Healey said in a statement. “Our efforts start with providing access to communities that have been neglected for far too long and empowering them with the tools to expand their network, access essential services and advance their careers.”
“When we first started Archtop Fiber, one of our founding principles was our commitment to bridging the digital divide,” said Jeff Demond, Chairman and CEO of Archtop Fiber. “These grants will advance our mission to serve the underserved in Massachusetts, as well as expand economic growth, educational opportunities, access to healthcare and more.”
Archtop announced the construction of its 100% fiber Internet network in the City of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in July. Once operational, Archtop Fiber will provide the fastest, most reliable and environmentally friendly Internet service in the area.
Archtop + Public-Private Partnerships = Win-Win
The Massachusetts grant program is just the latest public-private partnership Archtop Fiber has joined to support high-speed Internet access in underserved communities. In New York, Archtop Fiber has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sullivan County to extend multi-gig fiber within the county.
In November, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced over $140 million in awards from the ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Grant Program, of which Sullivan County received $29.9 million. Through the ConnectALL Initiative, Archtop Fiber is deploying technology capable of upload and download speeds up to 10Gbps to over 22,000 homes and businesses in Sullivan County. Additionally, through the MOU, we are working to connect the county’s emergency communication towers with Archtop’s system, with the goal of offering wireless broadband service to areas where it would be significantly difficult or expensive to reach with fiber.
We are more than a fiber Internet service provider. We are committed to partnering with the communities we serve for the better, because they are also the communities where we live and work. Learn more about Archtop Fiber and our community initiatives in our annual Environmental, Social and Governance report.