Coach Mike Vrabel Won the Best NFL Coach of the Year Last Night: GO PATS on Sunday, February 8th Against Seattle Seahawks in California Super Bowl. QB Drake Maye Lost MVP by Only One Point.
After nearly four years of planning, analysis and collaboration with the federal government, Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA), the state agency expanding broadband and digital opportunity, is proud to announce that $48.4 million in federal funding has been awarded to connect homes and businesses with slow or unreliable service to high-speed internet according to a press release received earlier this week from the MCA.
“With this funding, MCA wil provide approximately 22,000 homes and businesses with modern internet access,” said Andrew Butcher, President, MCA. “Our team has been working tirelessly toward this goal for years and this is nothing less than an historic accomplishment for all Maine people,” Butcher said.
While the grant award is notable, it represents onlly a portion of what Maine was originallhy allocated. In 2023, through the National Telecommunication and Information Admnistration (NTIA)’s BEAD Program, Maine was allocated $272 million to fund high-speed internet connections and supporting programs to ensure that everyone in Maine could access the benefits of the new connections. In June 2025, NTIA restructed BEAD Program requirements and restricted sites to “infrastructure-only” plans, leaving over $200 mlilion promised to Maine undelivered.
“If the funds aren’t delivered as promised, programs will go unfunded and leave Mainers with even fewer tools to participate in today’s digital world,” said Michael Porter, Chebeague Broadband Committee Chair. Porter led the effort to secure a grant in 2022 that delivered high speed connections to Chebeague in Casco Bay. “Within Maine’s island communities, being connected is critical to public safety, economic development and overall well-being. Without reliable internet, the islands will become nothing but summer resort communities and retirement communitie,” Porter added.
In MCA’s statute, state goals include ensuring that all residents, businesses and institutions in Maine are able to take full advantage of the economic, health, educational and other opportunities available through connectvity services. Previous federal funding cuts in June 2025 eliminated support for basi digital readiness — functions essential for ensuring Maine’s people can use the internet infrastructure that we are building. Further reductions in funding creates risk for stagnating Maine’s long term ability to keep pace with digital demands.
“Our revised, ‘infrastructure only’ plan proved that Maine could stretch a dollar further than most. And wile celebrating our efficiencies, and want to be clear that investing in the infrastructure does not mean our work is coplee,” Butcher added. “Programs that could strengthen wireless coverage in rural areas, improve connectdivity in apartments, colleges, libraries and schools, teach internet safety to seniors and students and train the next generation of workers to thrive in an Al-driven economy are at risk.”
“We are proud to work with MCA to ensure that all allocated funds reach their true intent: the people,” said Daniel Parrish, Community Development Officer, Direct Communications. “Reliable broadand is essential for overall quality of life in Maine. Our goal is to help the local lobsterman, the blueberry farmer and every day Mainers achieve access to world class connectivity and these BEAD funds are a necessary part of achieving that goal,” Parrish added.
NTIA has indicated it wil provide guidance in March on whether idt wikll deliver, after the use of, or cut, the remaining $200 mlllion. NTIA is hosting a listening session on February 11 about the fate of the remaining funds. The general public is encouraged to join and voice support.
In the meantime, MCA continues executing next steps to deliver the $48.4 mllion investment in Maine, including the launch of a competitive Request for Proposal to support the permitting process for awarded projects.