March 5, 2010 — The OpenCape Corporation, a West Barnstable nonprofit, announced that it has been awarded $32 million in federal stimulus funding to construct a regional communications network on Cape Cod and the Islands.

OpenCape will combine the funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce with $8 million in matching funds from Massachusetts, RCN Metro Optical Networks, and Barnstable County to construct a a 350-mile fiber optic network, wireless microwave network, and regional data center.

The network aims to support the economic, educational, public safety, and governmental needs of the southeast Massachusetts region.

The open access, vendor neutral middle mile network will connect more than 60 anchor institutions on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. In addition, OpenCape will build further connections to the Internet in Providence, Rhode Island, along the south coast, and to Boston through Plymouth and Brockton. These paths will allow additional anchor institutions throughout southeast Massachusetts to connect to the network.

OpenCape will serve as an underpinning infrastructure for economic diversification and expansion on Cape Cod. The fiber along the south coast can also serve as a foundation for additional broadband capacity in that region, helping to provide an economic stimulus in cities such as Fall River and New Bedford where unemployment is nearly 15%.

“OpenCape is the product of years of work and collaboration by organizations and individuals across our region,” said OpenCape’s President Dan Gallagher. “It’s a vital part of the region’s long term growth and competitiveness strategy and we are excited to have assembled all of the necessary funding to immediately begin building the OpenCape network.”

OpenCape estimates that the project will create more than 200 jobs in the equipment, construction and manufacturing sectors, as well as an additional 200 indirect jobs.

OpenCape will bring together the many stake holders who have participated in the development of the concept to focus the region on executing the grant and building the network. “We are going to come together as a region to celebrate a little, but then get right back to work,” said Gallagher.