FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ben Goodman, ben.goodman@maine.gov
February 25, 2022

ConnectMaine Receives Major Award to Connect Dozens of Rural Communities

U.S. Department of Commerce Grant will enable the ConnectMaine Authority, municipalities, internet service providers to connect more than 11,000 households

Augusta, Maine – The ConnectMaine Authority today celebrated an announcement that it has been awarded a $28 million grant by the U.S. Department of Commerce to bring fast, affordable internet service to thousands of unserved homes across the state. The award will fund a new public-private partnership that will connect more than thousands of unserved homes in more than a dozen communities.

The federal funds, awarded through a competitive grant process, will support a partnership between ConnectMaine, the towns of Somerville, Washington, and Isle au Haut, and internet service providers Consolidated Communications, Axiom Technologies, and LCI Fiber Optic Network to bring fiber to unserved areas in Franklin, Hancock, Knox, and Lincoln counties. The grant will support the establishment of municipally-owned networks in the three municipalities serving as partners under the grant.

“I have pledged that every person in Maine who wants to connect to reliable internet will be able to do so by the end of 2024. This Federal funding will help us make progress on that ambitious goal by ensuring that more than 11,000 unserved Maine homes have access to high-speed  internet, providing them with the connection they need to work, study, start a business, see a doctor, and stay in touch with friends and family,” said Governor Janet Mills. “I thank Maine’s Congressional Delegation for their ongoing support and congratulate the ConnectMaine Authority and its partners, the municipalities of Somerville, Washington, and Isle Au Haut, and Consolidated Communications, Axiom Technologies, and LCI Fiber Optic Network, on this exciting venture.”

“Today’s award underscores that Maine is a leader in bringing together public and private organizations to meet our connectivity challenges,”said Peggy Schaffer, Director of the ConnectMaine Authority. “We look forward to working with our partners to help ensure that every Mainer has the connectivity they need to work, study, and communicate with their friends and family.”

“This exciting public-private partnership will bring our state closer to its connectivity goals,” said Heather Johnson, Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development. “During her recent State of the State Address, Governor Mills pledged that every Mainer who wants to connect to the internet will be able to do so by the end of 2024. This exciting announcement will bring Maine closer to that benchmark by connecting more than 11,000 homes with fast, affordable, and reliable internet.”

"We are pleased to be supporting community owned broadband projects and excited to partner with three communities--Somerville, Washington and Isle au Haut--to deliver a world class fiber experience,” said Mark Ouellette, CEO of Axiom Technologies. “These communities will all have broadband connectivity that will rival anywhere on the planet, will close the digital divide for many children, and enable adults to be able to work from home productively. I thank Governor Mills and the ConnectMaine Authority for their support of this grant application.”