Network cables are plugged in a server room. (Michael Bocchieri/Getty Images)
Maine will invest $272 million of federal funds to expand access to high-speed, affordable internet across the state.
“Reliable internet access is a critical part of ensuring rural states like Maine can fully participate in our modern, globally connected economy,” said Gov. Janet Mills. “With this approval, Maine can now put historic federal funds to use to bring the internet to more people in Maine, unlocking new opportunities in commerce, education, telemedicine and more.”
The funds are part of the Broadband Equity, Access and Development Program that was created through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will be the largest grant ever awarded to the state to expand internet access, according to a news release from the governor’s office Monday.
The grant to build out broadband infrastructure comes after the expiration of federal program offering discounted connectivity to low-income households. Roughly 98,000 Maine households took advantage of the program, which was launched during the pandemic. Some internet providers, including Spectrum, said they will continue to offer low-cost internet through the end of the year.
Mills said the new funds will allow her administration and the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) to continue their work in ensuring that internet access is available to every Mainer who wants it. The MCA will need to begin an application process that will result in a final proposal detailing how the funds will allow Maine to achieve universal connectivity.
That final proposal must be submitted within one year of the announcement of the federal dollars, the release says. The funds will be used in alignment with an action plan that MCA created with input from thousands of people from across the state in 2023.
“Our state has made tremendous progress connecting people to more reliable, faster and affordable internet,” said Maine Connectivity Authority President Andrew Butcher. “We’ve led the way on digital equity, helping veterans, seniors and older Mainers get online, and are now one critical step closer to making the most of this historic investment to bridge the digital divide.”
The Maine Connectivity Authority was created in 2021 through bipartisan legislation with the goal of deploying affordable, high-speed broadband access across the state. As of this month, the agency has invested more than $140 million to create more than 70,000 connections throughout Maine. An additional $80 million in private and community investment has ensured that more than 70% of the unserved locations have been addressed.
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