"Municipal Internet networks put the public in the driver seat when it comes to ensuring affordable and capable Internet access and lay the groundwork for future economic development," Lederman said in a letter Tuesday. "However, construction of such a network in a larger urban center like Springfield presents unique fiscal and technical challenges that are not present in wealthier suburban committees."
In the letter addressed to Healey, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Ed Markey and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, all Democrats, Lederman said the COVID-19 pandemic showed how some residents struggled to use the internet through mobile devices or slow connections in their homes.
Meanwhile, several nearby communites such as Chicopee, South Hadley and Westfield have all established municipal internet networks, Lederman said.
"As the state and federal government continue expenditure of pandemic recovery and infrastructure dollars, now is the time to be advocating for this investment," Lederman said in a press release. "It's vital to ensure we remain competitive economically, educationally and technologically."
In January, Lederman announced the creation of the Working Group on Digital Equity and Internet Access, a group that is chaired by Ward 2 City Councilor Michael Fenton.
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