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Legislation tasks ConnectME Authority with coordinating state effort to compete for federal broadband money
May 20, 2009
AUGUSTA – Rep. Cynthia Dill, D-Cape Elizabeth, is seeking to create a council to coordinate the state’s efforts to compete for federal broadband money and advise the University of Maine System regarding the sale or lease of excess broadband capacity.
The Maine House of Representatives enacted Dill’s bill, LD 1012, “A Resolve Directing the ConnectME Authority To Create the Broadband Strategy Council,” Monday. It directs the ConnectME Authority to establish the Broadband Strategy Council to advise the authority on all matters pertaining to broadband opportunities available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), as well as advise the University of Maine System regarding the sale or lease of excess broadband capacity as a result of the conversion of the education broadband spectrum.
“It’s very exciting that there is such wide support for coordinating Maine’s efforts to compete for federal recovery broadband money,” said Dill. “The state’s efforts to attract resources to expand Maine’s broadband network will be enhanced by this Council.”
Under the guidance and direction of the proposed Broadband Strategy Council, the ConnectME Authority, which was created in 2007 to expand broadband access in the most rural, under-served areas of the state, would coordinate the efforts of state agencies in taking advantage of broadband opportunities for public institutions and act on behalf of the state in any application of funds and resources under the ARRA.
“Technology and the information economy are essential for overall prosperity,” said Dill. “Maine’s broadband network has the potential to further build the state as a hub of economic activity, and it will help us to compete with other states in New England and throughout the country.”
The resolve would task the newly created Broadband Strategy Council to be responsible for advising the University of Maine System on the institution’s plan to convert its Education Broadband Services (EBS) spectrum from analog to digital operation. Dill says the switch will provide broadband opportunities across the state and generate revenue from the lease of resulting excess capacity on the EBS spectrum.
Dill looks at the switch from analog to digital operation as an investment that may pay big dividends. Other states such as Wisconsin have netted over $12 million up-front with projected lease payments totaling over $100 million.
“Converting the EBS signal to digital will free up space on the spectrum and enable the state to lease excess capacity to generate much-needed revenue,” said Dill. “The transition will also help to modernize the University’s online educational programming and extend high-speed Internet access across the state.”
The University of Maine System has delivered educational content over its FCC-licensed EBS for twenty years through its interactive television (ITV) program. After converting to digital, a portion of the EBS spectrum must continue to be used for educational content. ITV may evolve to more online courses.
“This proposal is a sound investment for the University of Maine System and the state of Maine,” said Dill. “Creating new revenue streams for the university system and expanding broadband opportunities in the state are essential for economic development.”
The bill faces further votes in the Senate. If passed and signed by the Governor, the Broadband Strategy Council will be created immediately so that decisions regarding the state’s broadband infrastructure can be made before the application periods for the ARRA funding have expired.
Contact:
Rep. Cynthia Dill, 767-7197
Sean Smith, Legislative Aide, 287-1430
Kyle Leighton, Communications Director, 287-1433