News
Governor Baldacci Announces Connect ME Authority
August 16, 2006
CONTACT: Crystal Canney, 287-2531
(cell) 557-5968
Dan Cashman, 287-2531
(cell) 837-4821
HERMON – Governor John E. Baldacci announced the Connect ME Authority Wednesday morning. He made the announcement while in Hermon congratulating the town on providing internet access to its citizens.
“This authority, created under the Connect ME legislation, contains five members,” said Governor Baldacci. “All five members are highly qualified and representing a cross-section of business, education and the public sphere.”
The five members on the Authority are: Jean Wilson of LL Bean; Mitch Davis of Bowdoin College; Dan Breton of Verizon; Kurt Adams, Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission; and Dick Thompson, Chief Information Officer for the State of Maine. The Authority’s first meeting will be held at the State House in Augusta near the end of the month.
The announcement of the Connect ME Authority is the next phase of the Governor’s Connect ME initiative.
“As you know, my Connect ME initiative has been instrumental in improving broadband and cell phone coverage across the state,” said Governor Baldacci. “I am pleased that the state is partnering with organizations, communities and people that are leading the way.”
Governor Baldacci also congratulated the town of Hermon for leading the way in providing internet access to its citizens.
“Hermon understands the importance of an economy that is founded on education and a creative community in which every member of it can be involved,” said the Governor. “Through technology, Hermon has done wonderful things to build a creative community – socially, educationally, culturally and economically.”
With technology connecting Maine with the world, Governor Baldacci said that people are taking notice of this and staying in Maine.
“We have reversed the trend of the 1990s where people were leaving the state,” said the Governor. “Youth are staying in Maine and others are moving to Maine because of our quality of life, our natural resources, our cultural heritage and our traditional New England downtowns. All of that is very good news for our state and for the people of our state.”
