Consolidated Communications issued a formal announcement today stating that it has been awarded two broadband grants totaling $17 million from the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) through the Connect the Ready program.
The MCA announced the awards, along with awards made to several other providers, last month and Telecompetitor covered the winners, including Consolidated at that time.
Consolidated’s funding will go toward the cost of making multi-gigabit fiber broadband available to more than 15,800 locations in Maine.
One of the grants came through a partnership with the towns of Skowhegan, Madison, Cornville and Canaan. That grant is for $8.8 million to reach 12,500 locations.
The other grant is for $8.1 million to extend fiber broadband to 3,300 locations in Bancroft, Brookton, Danforth, Drew Plantation, Glenwood Plantation, Haynesville, Forest, Forest City, Orient, Reed Plantation, and Weston.
“We’re thrilled to be working collaboratively with rural communities throughout Maine to close the rural digital divide,” said Sarah Davis, vice president of government affairs at Consolidated, in a press release. “Maine Connectivity Authority is doing incredible work in empowering communities and providers to find solutions that bring reliable, high-speed internet to consumers and small businesses.”
The news about the Consolidated Maine broadband grant wins comes just days after the company was awarded $40 million through a New Hampshire broadband funding program.
