‘This is big’: Gov. Charlie Baker gets update on Whip City Fiber’s rural broadband plans
Governor Charlie Baker and his entourage gathered Thursday at Westfield Gas & Electric headquarters to hear an update on rural broadband deployment in Western Massachusetts. “This is big,” said Baker to employees of the municipal utility, which is planning and building fiber optic networks in 20 small towns. “You should all be incredibly proud of yourselves.” The utility’s Whip City Fiber division is partnering with communities that have long struggled without high-speed internet service. Networks are already live in Otis and Alford, and 18 communities are in the queue.