PRINCETON - The state celebrated a new community getting a high speed broadband network, as part of its Last Mile Grant program. 

Princeton is the program's 17th town. It's an effort to bring broadbrand connectivity to places unserved by high speed internet.  The program is currently set to help 53 communities statewide. 

Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito were in attendance on Thursday. 

"This is like running water. It's like electricity. It's like heat. It's fundamental infrastructure and if you don't have it, the consequences are profound," Governor Baker said. 

Lt. Governor Polito said, "You think about education because you want children, the future generation of our Commonwealth, to access the very best education in their neighborhood." 

The governor said they're hoping to finish installing broadband networks another 18 communities in 2020. 

Since 2016, the Last Mile program has invested over $41 million in direct awards to increase broadband connections in unserved and underserved communities, including grants from the MBI and the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) for public/private projects, municipal-owned fiber-to-the-home networks, and advanced wireless projects.