OpenCape Testifies in Strong Support of H.3478 To Accelerate Broadband Access Across Massachusetts

Steve Johnston Testifying Before the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy

BOSTON, MA — On May 6th, representatives from OpenCape Corporation, a nonprofit, open-access broadband provider based in Barnstable, delivered testimony before the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy in support of H.3478 – An Act to Streamline Broadband Permitting and Access.

Led by Executive Director Steve Johnston, the OpenCape delegation included John Campbell, Board Member and former Chief Information Officer at Mass General Brigham Healthcare at Home, and Jenn Brann, Vice President of Business Operations. Their testimony highlighted the urgent need to simplify the permitting process and improve access to pole and conduit infrastructure — two of the biggest barriers to equitable, community-based broadband expansion in Massachusetts.

“We’re ready to build — we have the capital, the talent, and the demand,” said Steve Johnston. “But outdated permitting and infrastructure access delays are holding us back. H.3478 is a practical, well-targeted bill that lets community-focused providers like OpenCape move faster and serve more.”

The panel drew on recent real-world examples, including a project that took just four weeks to construct but seven months to permit — a common imbalance that stalls broadband development across the Commonwealth.

OpenCape Chairman John Campbell testifying with Representative Kip Diggs and Jenn Brann OpenCape VP of Business Operations

“As someone who has overseen telehealth rollouts, I can tell you — delays in broadband deployment directly impact patient care,” said John Campbell, MBA, CHCIO. “This bill is critical to connecting vulnerable populations to 21st-century healthcare.”

OpenCape emphasized that H.3478 complements the forthcoming deployment of federal BEAD funds, which are intended to support broadband expansion in underserved and unserved areas.

“We talk to families, small businesses, and town leaders every day,” said Jenn Brann, VP of Business Operations. “They’re not just asking for broadband — they’re asking for choice. This bill helps bring competition, accountability, and better service to communities that have waited too long.”

The legislation, filed by Representative Kip Diggs, aims to modernize and standardize the broadband permitting process, especially for municipal and pole access. OpenCape’s support for H.3478 reflects its broader mission to ensure affordable, reliable, high-speed internet is accessible to every resident and business in the region.