Frustration mounted during the latest government meeting as officials expressed dissatisfaction with the Massachusetts Broadband Institute's (MBI) handling of ongoing issues related to community anchor institutions. This marked the third office hours session, with participants voicing concerns over MBI's perceived inefficiency and lack of progress on critical matters.

One official highlighted a lack of confidence in MBI's ability to manage the process, citing repeated discussions on unresolved issues that have persisted through multiple meetings. The official noted that despite assurances from MBI's director that certain state-owned universities met the criteria for community anchor institutions, approvals have yet to be granted after six meetings.

The dialogue revealed a pattern of delays, with officials frustrated by MBI's tendency to prolong discussions on straightforward matters. Specific examples included the handling of multiple buildings under the same community anchor institution, where the official argued that the logic applied to other institutions should similarly apply here.

Additionally, the meeting addressed complications arising from a statewide housing trust that submitted applications for various locations but failed to include all necessary identifiers, leading to further confusion and delays. The official urged MBI to clarify its Community Anchor Institution (CAI) program and resolve existing issues promptly, emphasizing the need for decisive action rather than prolonged debate.

As the meeting concluded, the call for efficiency and clarity in MBI's processes underscored the urgency of addressing these ongoing challenges in broadband access for community institutions.