OpenCape, a non-profit organization that is planning a large middle-mile broadband network project to connect many residential customers and public institutions in Massachusetts, has applied for a U.S. federal grant to fund the construction. The grant program is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 - also referred to as the economic stimulus package. The Act set aside $7.2 billion in funding for development of broadband infrastructure in the U.S.

Along with laying about 350 miles of fiber-optic cable on Cape Cod, adjacent islands and southeastern Massachusetts, OpenCape - the non-profit - is planning to build a regional colocation data center for both private and government customers. The $40 million project also includes plans for a microwave backhaul network to provide network redundancy for emergency service communications. RCN Metro Optical Networks, a division of RCN Corporation, will build and operate the network if funding is secured.

Existing middle-mile fiber in the region is controlled exclusively by Verizion and Comcast, said OpenCape President Dan Gallagher. Comcast provides cable services, but not to all homes and businesses in the area. Verizon has some DSL infrastructure, but its reach is limited to the area immediately surrounding the provider's central building in the region.

"One of the things we're doing with our proposal is we're connecting 72 anchor institutions as part of the build out," Gallagher, who is also CIO at Cape Cod Community College, said. "They will be able to deliver umbrella services for public institutions out of the data center (that) will have server structure for public entities to share information services."

Colo space in the future 2,000-square-foot data center will not be limited to government organizations. Private clients will be free to lease space there and use the future network. RCN will, however, provide "deep discounts for non-profits and for government entities," Gallagher said.

The "anchor institutions" will include 12 emergency shelters in school buildings, 30 libraries, five colleges, six academic research facilities and 18 public safety buildings, according to an OpenCape statement.

The project will provide broadband connectivity to all towns in Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties, in addition to 11 towns and cities in Plymouth County. About 320,000 households and about 62,000 businesses are located within the project area.

Government funding is what makes projects like OpenCape's possible in regions such as the one in question, Gallagher explained. The area's low population density makes it unattractive for private corporations to invest large sums of capital in developing its infrastructure. With the prospect of having most of the cost covered by the government, OpenCape was able to attract a partner like RCN.

The non-profit requested $32 million in broadband stimulus funding. The State of Massachusetts has committed $5 million, as part of its own broadband expansion project. RCN has committed $1 million and the building in Barnstable County that is going to house the data center is considered an in-kind donation of $2 million from the county government.