ConnectMaine Broadband Grants Awarded

The ConnectMaine Authority awards eight Broadband Infrastructure Grants to expand the availability of broadband service in the state, totaling about $15 million

The ConnectMaine Authority awards eight Broadband Infrastructure Grants to expand the
availability of broadband service in the state, totaling about $15 million.
Broadband service enables civic and cultural participation, employment, lifelong learning and access
to essential services. The projects awarded represent a wide spectrum of public-private partnerships
to reach about 6,000 in some of the least served areas of the state. The broadband infrastructure
resulting from five of the projects will be publicly-owned by municipalities or broadband utility
districts. Two other projects leverage existing expansion or upgrade projects underway, and involve
a national internet service provider and a smaller, Maine-based company. Importantly, these projects
won’t leave outlying roads or potential subscribers without access to broadband service.
The ConnectMaine Authority awards infrastructure grants to support expansion of broadband
service. Opened on January 12, this application window includes the remaining bond funds and
additional funds dedicated from the Maine Connectivity Authority. In July 2020, Maine voters had
approved a state broadband bond of $15 million, of which just over half was awarded in May 2021.

The mission of ConnectMaine is to facilitate the universal availability of broadband to all Maine
households and businesses, and to help them understand the valuable role it can play in enriching
their lives and helping their communities thrive. More information can be found on the
ConnectMaine website: www.maine.gov\connectme