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Maine moves to future-proof taxpayer-funded broadband by raising standards

Some people argue that current standards should stay in place until underserved areas are connected but others say faster speeds are needed now.

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Maine proposes huge boost in broadband standards for grants

Read Article New rules proposed by the state’s broadband internet authority would require taxpayer-subsidized broadband projects to be able to provide dramatically faster speeds than the current minimum standard and would greatly increase the portion of the state regarded as inadequately served by broadband. The ConnectMaine Authority, also known as ConnectME, typically funds broadband infrastructure grants from a relatively small pot – about $750,000 to $1 million annually – that comes from customer fees on landline telephone service. But with a $15 million state bond to dole out and tens of millions of federal broadband infrastructure dollars coming, the authority’s board wanted to ensure taxpayer-supported investment would meet the needs of current and future residents, said ConnectME Executive Director Peggy Schaffer.

Maine lawmakers release more details about proposed state broadband agency

Maine lawmakers release more details about proposed state broadband agency In a legislative committee meeting Tuesday, Gov. Janet Mills called the proposal one of the most important pieces of legislation this session. Share Lawmakers on Tuesday provided more details about a bill that would establish an independent agency to oversee a sweeping expansion of high-speed internet service in the state, a proposal Gov. Janet Mills called “one of the most important pieces of legislation” before the Maine Legislature this year. An amendment to L.D. 1484, sponsored by Sen. Rick Bennett, R-Oxford, would create the Maine Connectivity Authority, a quasi-governmental body tasked with bringing affordable broadband internet service across the state over the next decade. The new agency would likely oversee investing up to $129 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act for internet expansion in concert with communities and private internet providers.

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