Maine's broadband expansion drive gets a $28M boost
Maine’s ongoing efforts to create statewide broadband access are getting a $28 million boost from the federal government.
The money will pay for the expansion of high-speed internet service to nearly 15,000 rural Maine residents, according to a news release Friday. The ConnectMaine Authority Statewide Broadband Infrastructure Project will deploy last-mile broadband connections across 24 unserved communities.
The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Broadband Infrastructure Program and has been authorized through recent COVID-19 relief legislation.
“As one of the most rural states in the nation, Maine has unique challenges in providing high-speed, affordable broadband access to all citizens. The lack of broadband reliability that plagues Mainers restricts their ability to compete in a 21st century economy and to utilize educational, health, and other important public services,” said U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Angus King, I-Maine, and U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine 1st District, and Jared Golden, D-Maine 2nd District, in the release.
“This substantial funding to expand broadband access to nearly 15,000 Maine residents will help make rural communities a more viable place to live, work, and raise a family.”
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments