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June 23, 2011

Report: Maine No. 1 in tech infrastructure

By The Mainebiz News Staff

Maine leads the nation for technology infrastructure, thanks in part to the $32 million Three Ring Binder broadband expansion project, a recent U.S. Chamber of Commerce report says.

The report, "Enterprising states: Recovery and renewal for the 21st century," ranked Maine No. 1 for infrastructure based on its share of Internet lines that are high-speed and other indicators. The report found that Maine has the nation's highest share of broadband connections over 3 megabits per second, and cited the Three Ring Binder project's efforts to expand broadband, especially to businesses, academic institutions and health care facilities using telemedicine. "These efforts will solidify Maine's current top ranking for high-speed broadband intensity and its seventh-place position for high-speed broadband availability," the report states. The public-private project initiated by Internet provider GWI is being built by a Portland-based company called Maine Fiber Co. and managed by Tilson Fiber Technology, also of Portland, according to a press release from Maine Fiber.

The project will construct 1,100 miles of fiber optic cable, with 150 miles set to be completed by the end of the summer and 500 miles by the end of 2011. Full completion is scheduled for the end of 2012. It's expected to provide broadband service to more than 100 rural communities, 110,000 households, 600 community institutions and 38 government facilities.

The report also listed Maine fourth for small business lending and eighth for transportation infrastructure performance.

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