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Apr 8, 2024

Fayette joins Wilton and others in broadband grant programs

Fayette joins Wilton and other rural communities across the state in bringing broadband services to their towns through the Maine Connectivity Authority and CCI.

FAYETTE — The town of Fayette will join Wilton and numerous other rural towns in Franklin County and Maine in its push to bring rural communities up to speed with broadband coverage through the Maine Connectivity Authority’s grant programs.

Fayette will receive $1,875,000 through the Connect the Ready grant program issued by MCA, according to a press release.

Fayette was able to attain grant funding in cooperation with Consolidated Communications Inc [CCI] which will be used to establish broadband coverage to approximately 440 homes and businesses in the region.

“We are greatly appreciative of the work by the MCA staff that has led to the recommendation of an internet service provider committed to serving every resident,” Fayette Town Manager Mark Robinson said in a press release.

Robinson went on to say the road to secure the grant funding was at times “arduous”, but the town will be “greatly relieved” once the project sees completion. According to the release, Fayette was originally working with internet service provider Matrix Design Group, who was awarded the grant funding in early 2023.

Matrix would ultimately decline the award in December later that year, citing its inability to “fulfill the grant requirements.”

Fayette joins Wilton, who was also working with Matrix Design Group in securing a grant proposal through MCA. Former town manager Perry Ellsworth began working with Matrix Design Group in November of 2022, and the proposal was accepted by MCA in the summer of 2023.

The Wilton Board of Selectpersons accepted the grant in July, although Brian Lippold of Casco Bay Advisors LLC advised against it at a previous meeting, citing the feasibility of the market share conditions in the grant requirements.

“The grant from the MCA requires the town to demonstrate that at least 50% of the potential subscriber locations have signed up for service,” Lippold said at that meeting.

Lauren Cassle, account manager from Matrix Design Group, assured the Select Board at the meeting in July that 50% market share was feasible, even with multiple competing providers.

Despite this, Ellsworth shared with the Select Board at a meeting in November 2023 Matrix had failed to come close to achieving a 50% market share.

“We haven’t been able to achieve anywhere close to that,” Ellsworth said at that meeting, stating 50% market share in the town would amount to 700 households.

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