News
Governor Baldacci Welcomes Broadband to Swanville
June 12, 2006
CONTACT: Crystal Canney, 287-2531
(cell) 557-5968
Dan Cashman, 287-2531
(cell) 837-4821
SWANVILLE – Governor John E. Baldacci pledged during his State of the State address in 2004 to strengthen Maine by advancing the deployment of broadband services throughout the state. Governor Baldacci continued with that pledge Monday afternoon by welcoming broadband connections to Swanville through Mainely Wired.
Mainely Wired is a relatively new business, offering broadband internet service to residents of Swanville. Peter Petersen, CEO of Mainely Wired, says that Governor Baldacci’s strong support of the Connect ME initiative convinced him, and others now employed by him, to stay in the state of Maine.
Governor Baldacci attended the official opening of the rural broadband link Monday afternoon at the Swanville Town Offices. While there, the Governor ceremonially signed LD 2080, An Act to Accelerate Private Investment in Maine’s Wireless and Broadband Infrastructure.
“This is about not just me and you having opportunities to work in rural Maine,” said Governor Baldacci, “but also our children and grandchildren having those same opportunities for years to come.”
The Connect ME Authority will accelerate entrepreneurial investment through the legislation, which was passed with strong bi-partisan support. Tax reimbursements will be available for infrastructure investments made in areas that are presently un-served; the Connect ME Authority will receive $500,000 from the Universal Service Fund to assist Maine people in expanding broadband services; the Authority will obtain USDA rural development money to advance broadband deployment in Maine; and it will track investments made in Maine and continually assess the availability of services in the state.
Governor Baldacci ceremonially signed the legislation and sent an e-mail using his new e-mail account through Mainely Wired: john.baldacci@mainelywired.net
