An $11 million investment in regional infrastructure is planned to bring high-speed, low-latency connectivity to more than 6,600 locations in western Maine. These are sites that either don’t currently have access to the internet or have access to slower broadband or copper-based connections.
The funding for the project, which entails building more than 450 miles of fiber, was announced by FirstLight, a provider of digital infrastructure services.
The Maine Connectivity Authority made the agreement with FirstLight to receive the funding. The grant is part of a statewide initiative in Maine called the Partnerships for Enabling Middle Mile (PEMM).
“Many parts of western Maine have had to rely on slow and non-existent internet access,” said FirstLight Vice President, Product and Marketing John Romagnoli. “This new fiber build is literally a lifeline for many, and helps pave the way for small businesses to flourish and compete in an increasingly connected world.”
The fiber project will assist the following locations in Maine: Albany, Andover, Bethel, Bryant Pond, Buckfield, Byron, Canton, Gilead, Greenwood, Hanover, Hartford, Hebron, Livermore, Mason, Milton Township, Minot, Newry, North Norway, North Turner, Roxbury Pond, Sumner, Turner, Upton, West Bethel, West Paris, and Woodstock.
Construction is arranged to take place in phases, starting in Bethel within the next few months. The project is intended to be completed by 2029.
“This award builds from the impressive foundation of collaboration and coordination modeled by the Mahoosuc Broadband Committee, which has led to a unique public/private partnership that leverages existing infrastructure to maximize efficient connectivity throughout the region,” said Andrew Butcher, president of the Maine Connectivity Authority.
The investment in the Maine middle mile project includes contributions of $317,000 from the towns of Bethel, Greenwood, Gilead, Woodstock, and Oxford County.
This follows another middle mile funding announcement in August, with the Maine Connectivity Authority and through the PEMM program, of $9.6 million to aid in two broadband projects for connecting more than 15,000 homes and businesses in 12 communities.
Late last year, the state of Maine also awarded $36 million in broadband funding to four providers for deploying high-speed broadband to rural areas. Some of that award — but not all — came from a middle mile program.
