Braintree Electric Light Department (BELD) is one of 41 municipal light departments organized under Massachusetts General Laws chapter 164, and one of more than 2,200 municipally owned light departments in the country. BELD is recognized locally and nationally as an innovator in technology and new services. In 2000, after running a new hybrid fiber coax network throughout the town, the department began offering High-Speed Internet service to Braintree residents. Over the following years, that was expanded to include phone services to both residents and businesses in town.