MPUC Grants Maine Fiber Petition to Provide Dark Fiber Service
May 4, 2010
Augusta, Maine—Today the Maine Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously to grant Maine Fiber—a telecommunications dark fiber company—the authority to provide federally funded dark fiber in Maine. Maine Fiber’s rates and operations will be subject to market competition forces, not rate regulation by the Commission. Therefore the Commission waived various accounting and financial reporting requirements. The company, however, must provide basic financial information to the Commission each year.
“It is appropriate to grant Maine Fiber the authority to provide dark fiber,” stated Commission Chair Sharon Reishus. “The company’s investment will improve broadband internet service access in Maine, especially in the rural areas.”
Under a new law passed this year by the Legislature, a dark fiber provider is designated as a utility and regulated by the Commission. Maine Fiber will provide new fiber optic cable—called “dark” because it is not carrying any data—to any telecommunications and internet companies who wish to pay for the service. This service (called “middle mile transport”) allows high capacity transport of data and telecommunications around the state to specific points of connection to the internet.
For more information, visit the Commission’s virtual case file—on the website www.maine.gov/mpuc, docket number 201020.
Contact: Evelyn deFrees, 207-287-6141 evelyn.defrees@maine.gov
