Chelsea, Massachusetts is one of the oldest cities in the United States. It is home to a large Latino population and has long provided shelter work and support to refugees.

Carl Allen works hard to help Chelsea’s residents seek solutions to the problems they face. Carl had a successful career in the software industry, then returned to school to study resource economics and urban planning.

He has used that degree as a springboard, devoting the latter part of his career to public service. Carl now serves as an economic development planner for the city of Chelsea. Carl has been working tirelessly to bring more equitable opportunities to his community. Recently, he has crafted an innovative plan to provide public broadband access to the residents of Chelsea. He hopes the initiative will help people to engage more effectively in the digital world. 

Episode Quotes:

On gentrification

[13:43]  My one worry in all of this is that, when we implement [Chelsea’s digital equity plan], it will mean that the people of Chelsea will have access to much better broadband than anyone else in Greater Boston at a much lower price point. We don't need additional gentrification pressures, but this'll suddenly become an ideal place to work from home.

On community buy-in

[18:25] You want to see your local leaders focusing on issues that are really important to you. And so, I think it's very important to get the public's buy-in on those issues and make sure that not only are you finding solutions, but you're finding solutions that they're excited about, that they're willing to operate in. Because if they're not invested in the solution, it's not gonna solve anything.

On the long term

[19:30] The most exciting part is that we will be able to deliver symmetrical gigabit connections to every household in Chelsea. And the preliminary estimates are, assuming we can get capital funding for most of the buildout, which I think we can, the monthly costs will be somewhere in the mid-thirties. That is insane.

Show Links:

• Chelsea, MA