Sen. Susan Collins (R) and Sen. Angus King (I) issued a joint press release Thursday applauding the federal government’s decision to approve the remaining $266 million in funding to expand high-speed internet access throughout Maine.
In June, Maine’s overarching plan to “expand access to high-speed, reliable, and affordable internet across the state” using a $272 million federal grant was approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
The first $5 million of this allocation was distributed nearly two years ago to support the development of Maine’s Five-Year Action Plan, which identifies the state’s “priorities for broadband and digital investments.”
This Five-Year Action Plan “identifies priorities for investment in broadband and digital equity, and serves as the state’s 5-year road map to bring the economic, health, educational, and social benefits of high-speed internet to all Mainers.”
Now that the state’s plan has been approved, the remainder of Maine’s $272 million allocation has been made available “to expand high-speed internet access across Maine and to help close the broadband availability gap.”
This funding comes through the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which was established by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The BEAD Program is housed under the umbrella of the NTIA’s Internet for All initiative that was launched in 2022.
“Access to high-speed Internet is critical to the vitality of rural communities, which is why I have long championed expanding access to broadband across Maine,” said Sen. Collins in Thursday’s press release.
“From spurring job creation to supporting telemedicine and education, the Internet unlocks almost endless benefits and possibilities,” she continued.
“I co-authored the broadband section of the law to help bridge the digital divide between rural and urban areas,” Collins concluded, “and I am pleased that this funding will help Maine make historic investments to extend its high-speed network to ensure that families have a reliable connection to their loved ones, co-workers, schools, and medical services.”
“In the 21st century, high-speed, affordable broadband is no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity,” Sen. King said. “Families, students, small businesses and telehealth patients across Maine all rely on this critical service, especially those in rural communities.”
“This investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law represents a huge step forward for the Maine Connectivity Authority as it works to close the digital divide across our state,” concluded King. “I’m proud to see funding from this bipartisan bill continue to help rural Maine succeed.”
Click Here to Read the Senators’ Full Press Release
Relatedly, Maine’s elected officials have expressed support in recent months for a program designed to lower the cost of internet access for low-income individuals.
Earlier this year, Rep. Pingree and Sen. Angus King (I) spoke out in support of extending the lifespan of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a program originally enacted in November of 2021.
[RELATED: Pingree, King Push for Multi-Billion Dollar Extension of Affordable Connectivity Program]
The ACP — also part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act — represented a $14.2 billion modification to the existing Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB Program).
Under the program, eligible low-income households can receive up to $30 per month off of their internet bill, while households on qualifying Tribal Lands may receive as much as $75 per month. One-time grants are also available for the purchase of laptops, desktop computers, or tablets.
Last November, Mills also called for the ACP’s extension, signing onto a letter alongside twenty-five other governors, including twenty-one Democrats, four Republicans, and one New Progressive.
In this letter, the governors asked Congressional leadership to “work collaboratively with the Biden Administration to ensure” that the ACP receives additional funding.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="29255 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=29255">8 Comments
I’m curious……why are we spending hundreds of million dollars for broadband internet? Ppl can’t afford food, rent or meds yet they got high speed internet, there is a reason the gov. Is spending all this money on this one item. Why? The control and flow of info?
Another waste of taxpayer money.
Just another service ( like power and cable ) that will crash whenever the wind blows . Happens all the time here . This is another joke from Democrats .
“ OH BOY Angus …THANKS ….my Game Boy works so much faster “ ….
Keep it up Augusta
Collins & King always applaud stealing from Taxpayers for the benefit themselves and their donors !
Another inflation ballooning, money printing, debt expanding government plan with inevitable, unintended consequences. Get the hell out of peoples’ affairs, Collins, King and the rest of dumda$$z in Washington D C!
More printed money pissed away. These two have never missed an opportunity to spend your fake money. Oh, except when it comes to controlling the borders. Then they won’t spend a plug nickel.
You honestly don’t believe that’s what the money will be used for, ,Maine gets millions declared emergency funds from biden almost monthly,the pharma lawsuits on behalf of the hospitals her sister n brother are cheif organizer and director,other brother director CMP and interstate ,all stakeholders pharma investors, billions marijuana farms Maine ,CCP non citizens ,illegally had power hooked up without passing code enforcement, ,property transfered black market by Mills other brother,she made two billion first year as governor for Maine rainy day fund ,and billionaire Scott donated to Maine hospitals , why arentt there housing,,infrastructure, ,bridges ,roads ,repaired ,trees cut back power lines, why dont’ famalies who lost loved ones get settlements ,it’s the hospitals that prescribed ixy 80″s t to 20 year olds with backaches ???????????the money seems to get intercepted before it helps any maine citizens ,what about infection control ,so hospitals aren’t so deadly ???? And the free drug meth pipes Mills sends out every month drug paraphernalia only keeps people more addicted it’s a trigger to get drugs ,if you got the pipe your going r to get something to put in it ,out of st sight out of mind ,doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out !and what about outting money into the very corruot courts n DHS comitting felonies against maine citizens !????????????????????Justice fir ABRAHAM! Now active hostage torture situation right now Maine gov !
My internet is so slow I can barely stream a movie ! I wonder if the fact my county voted for LePage has anything to do with this ?