BOSTON—Gov. Deval Patrick is urging lawmakers to pass a bill designed to bring high-speed Internet access to communities currently without broadband capabilities.
The $25 million bill would help link up the 32 towns in Massachusetts with no broadband access. Another 63 communities are partially served.
All but one of the communities with no broadband access at all are located in Western Massachusetts.
Patrick said the bill makes economic and educational sense.
He said the lack of broadband access makes it difficult or impossible for some businesses to operate. He also said Internet access is no longer a luxury for students.
He said the money would help close that digital divide.
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