The Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) announced August 13, 2024, that it will award two grants totaling $9,600,633 to connect 15,561 homes and businesses across Waldo and Lincoln counties to expand access to the internet. The grants were made through MCA’s Partnerships for Enabling Middle Mile (PEMM) Program which addresses large-scale, regional broadband needs by leveraging middle mile infrastructure. 

“This outcome is a tribute to the tenacity of the volunteer and community leaders who recognized the need for broadband long before the MCA was created,” said Carlos Barrionuevo, Secretary, MCA Board of Directors, in a news release. “This partnership leverages funding that was unavailable only a short time ago and illustrates just how far Maine has come in a short time to tackling a fundamental community need.”

These two grants demonstrate 12 years of community-driven broadband planning, regional collaboration, and highlight the value of public private regional-scale partnerships, according to Maine Connectivity Authority. Both projects maximized community buy-in by contributing local American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and received private investment from internet service providers. These communities and partnerships were supported by the Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission and Island Institute, as part of MCA’s Regional & Wabanaki Broadband Partner Program. Lincoln County is one of few in Maine to dedicate ARPA funding to broadband connectivity thanks to countywide prioritization by commissioners and municipal officials.

“Lincoln County has been actively pursuing the goal of complete broadband coverage for all locations across our County for many years,” said Carrie Kipfer, Administrator, Lincoln County Commissioners. “With the help of Maine Connectivity Authority will help us bring internet to every corner of our county and close the digital equity gap for all our citizens.”

The Lincoln County project received an award of $6,000,000, matched by $24,309,864 in private and public investment including Lincoln County ARPA funds. This grant incorporates the highest percentage of financial commitment from any public-private partnership awarded through an MCA program to date. In partnership with Consolidated Communications, this project will serve 14,436 homes and businesses in Woolwich, Wiscasset, Dresden, Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Southport, Edgecomb, Waldoboro, Alna, Whitefield, Nobleboro.

“Residents of Lincoln County have learned how essential a dependable internet connection has become,” said Mary Ellen Barnes, Community Digital Planner, Coastal Maine Regional Broadband. “We’ve heard from so many residents struggling to access telehealth care, online classes, government services and those wanting to improve their job skills and this opens a new world for all of them,” Barnes added.

The Waldo County project received an award of $3,600,633, matched by $1,900,000 in private and public investment including municipal ARPA funds. The partnership in Waldo County was also a recipient of a grant from MCA’s Get Ready: Community Support Program in 2022. Get Ready provided technical assistance to accelerate community broadband planning through the development of private-public partnerships, resulting in the ability to leverage funds and submit this successful grant proposal. In partnership with Direct Communications, this project will serve 1,125 homes and businesses in Frankfort, Prospect, Stockton Springs, and Winterport.

“This award is a critical investment that will bring vital broadband infrastructure to our communities, helping to meet the needs of our homes and businesses today and for the future”, said Ethan Tremblay, Chair of the 1A Waldo County Broadband Coalition. “This funding represents the culmination of years of hard work and collaboration and closer to our goal of universal affordable broadband for all.”

Partnerships for Enabling Middle Mile is part of MCA's All-In Programs, and is funded by ARPA Capital Projects Fund from the U.S. Department of Treasury. MCA’s complementary programs are designed to reach the most rural places, ensure affordable options for everyone, and invest in partnerships to build a modern broadband infrastructure for Maine.

Established in 2021, the Maine Connectivity Authority is the quasi-governmental agency working to deliver reliable, affordable high-speed internet to all residents in the state of Maine. In the past four years, the Maine Connectivity Authority has facilitated over $170 million in digital equity and infrastructure investments, enabling over 86,000 connections across the state and reducing the number of locations with no internet connection to less than 5-percent of the state.