Sen. Susan Collins (R) heralded the news on Tuesday that Maine’s $48.4 million plan to expand access to broadband internet throughout the state has been approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
Alongside Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sen. Collins coauthored the section of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) allocating $65 billion toward the advancement of projects nationwide designed to bring quality internet to rural areas.
Of the $42.45 billion set aside for the Broadband Equity, Access, And Deployment (BEAD) Program, Maine is eligible for a total of $272 million. The funding for the state’s now-approved project will be drawn from this pool.
According to Collins, Maine’s plan is one of the first states in country to receive NTIA approval.
Projects approved through the BEAD proposal include Maine-based and national providers using a range of technologies, including fiber, hybrid fiber-coax, and low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite service.
“Access to high-speed Internet is critical to the economy of rural communities, which is why I have long championed expanding access to broadband across Maine,” said Collins.
“From spurring job creation to supporting telemedicine and education, the Internet unlocks almost endless opportunities,” Collins added.
“I co-authored the broadband section of the IIJA to help bridge the digital divide between rural and urban areas,” Collins explained, “and I am pleased that this funding will help our state make historic investments to extend its high-speed network to ensure that thousands of additional Mainers have a reliable connection to their loved ones, co-workers, schools, and medical services.”
