National Broadband Plan and Maine
By Lisa Leahy, OIT
The National Broadband Plan; Connecting America, was unveiled to Congress on March 16th. Much as the introduction of electricity and the construction of the interstate highway system transformed economic growth, broadband is the foundation for job creation, global competitiveness and advancement of consume welfare, community development, health care delivery, energy independence and efficiency, education, employee training, private sector investment and entrepreneurial activity.
What does the Broadband Plan mean for Maine?
In recognition of the critical importance of technology for education, health and business success in Maine, the legislature created the ConnectME Authority (the Authority) in 2006, to develop and implement its broadband strategy for Maine. In 2007, the Legislature approved the Authority’s major substantive rule that defines the state’s broadband strategy and implementation process.
The Authority is to “identify un-served areas of the State; develop proposals for broadband expansion projects, demonstration projects and other initiatives; and administer the process for selecting specific broadband projects and providing funding, resources, and incentives. The National Broadband Plan has reinforced the effort already underway in Maine and has increased the possibility of funding and support.
To date, the Authority has processed three rounds of grant funding to expand affordable broadband service to the unserved areas of Maine. The Authority has awarded $2.79 million in total grants with total projects amounting to $8.26 million. To further the broadband effort the Authority will fund a mapping and planning project with a $1.8 million grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NITA). A $25.4 million federal Recovery Act grant, called the “Three Ring Binder” Middle Mile Project, will expand high-speed Internet service to rural areas of the State.
In 2009, the Authority awarded its third round of grants, based on smaller, more focused proposals. The Authority suggested grant limits of $100,000 per project, funding no more than 50% of the total project. Recognizing the need for flexibility for exceptional proposals, eight awards were made for just over $600,000 (total project value of $1.23 million), to serve over 4,200 households in the most rural areas of Maine.
The following table summarizes all the Authority’s grant activities to date:
Grant Year |
# of Grants |
Grant Range |
Total Grants |
Total Project Amount |
Household Availability |
|
2007 |
6 |
$38K - $370K |
$738,724 |
$1.53 million |
13,800 |
2.7% |
2008 |
5 |
$45K - $533K |
$1.44 mil |
$5.5 million |
9,000 |
1.7% |
2009 |
8 |
$43K - $232K |
$609,860 |
$1.23 million |
4,200 |
.8% |
Total |
19 |
|
$2.79 mil |
$8.26 million |
27,000 |
5.20% |
Future grants will continue to be targeted to areas of the State that have no form of broadband or terrestrial high-speed Internet service available. Eligible applicants are municipalities, co-ops, community groups and broadband service providers.
On March 16th, Phil Lindley, the Executive Director of the ConnectMe Authority participated in a State of the State program sponsored by the Maine Center for Economic Policy titled “Wiring Maine for Success”. The program addressed; How do we extend broadband internet access throughout rural Maine? Legislation pending at the State House could leverage more than $30 million in federal and private sector funding to improve Maine's fiber optic infrastructure. You can hear the program at: http://www.mecep.org/pv.asp?pa=181 Also, a program was taped in July 09, that discussed the “Future of Broadband in Maine”, and provides an overview of public and private efforts to improve the availability and use of broadband in Maine. http://www.mecep.org/pv.asp?pa=146
