Yesterday Governor Mills unveiled legislation to establish the Maine Connectivity Authority, a new entity charged with achieving universal availability of high-speed broadband in Maine.  The creation of the Authority comes as Maine is expected to receive as much as $129 million through the American Rescue Act Plan signed into law by President Biden last month that can be used for broadband expansion.

The Maine Connectivity Authority, which would be established under bipartisan legislation (LD 1484) sponsored by Senator Rick Bennett (R-Oxford) and co-sponsored by Rep. Seth Berry (D-Bowdoinham) and the other co-chairs of the Legislature’s Broadband Caucus, would put Maine in the driver’s seat in expanding affordable broadband..

The Authority would use Maine’s Federal allocation of funding for broadband.  Moreover, in a new approach distinct from but inclusive of the Connect Maine Authority, it would be empowered to our physical broadband infrastructure, such as poles and wires, and hold equity in broadband projects.  It would also be empowered to provide grants and loans and partner with the private sector and local communities to leverage investment and coordinate build out of infrastructure.  Taken together, the Authority positions Maine to take a more proactive approach to closing the digital divide in rural and hard-to-reach communities that will focus on meeting Maine’s current and future needs, rather than reacting in a piecemeal fashion with various private companies to construct a patchwork of infrastructure.

“High speed internet is as fundamental as electricity, heat and water.  It is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity.  We need to have affordable, high-speed internet throughout our state and with willpower we will get there,” said Governor Mills in a press release issued yesterday.  “My Administration has made expanding access to broadband a priority, securing the first state-level investment no more than a decade and bringing high-speed intgernet to more families and students across Maine.  Taking this next step to develop the Maine Connectivity Authority puts us on the best path forward to use the American Rescue Plan funds to expand internet access, especially in rural Maine and to speed up our economic recovery from the pandemic.”