Governor Janet Mills and Maine Connectivity Authority Board Members.

Yesterday Governor Janet Mills, the first woman governor of Maine, swore in the Board of Directors for the Maine Connectivity Authority, a new State entity charged with achieving universal availability of high-speed broadband in Maine.  The Board is charged with governor the Authority and is composed of seven members.  The Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development also holds a seat.

Their swearing-in comes one day after the Maine Senate unanimously confirmed the seven nominees and less than a month after Governor Mills signed into law the landmark legislation establishing the Authority, which also passed the Legislature with unanimous support.

The creation of the Authority is the next step forward in Governor Mills commitment to expanding access to affordable broadband in Maine, one of her top priorities.  Last year, the Governor secured the approval of a $15 million bond proposal for broad-band, the first new investment in internet expansion in more than a decade, and her Administration is also spearheading a mapping initiative to facilitate the expansion of broadband into areas with inadequate service.

The Governor swore in the following yesterday:

Carlos Javier Barriomuero, Daniel P. Belvea, John Chandler, Danielle Louder, Michael . Reed, Timothy R. Schneider and Robert J. Souza.