Orland awarded $1.9M broadband grant

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ORLAND — The Maine Connectivity Authority Board (MCA) voted to award a Connect the Ready: Cohort 2 grant to Consolidated Communications, Inc., doing business as Fidium Fiber, in partnership with the Town of Orland.

The grant of almost $1.9 million will be matched by $1.6 million from Consolidated, $50,000 from Orland’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and $200,000 in county ARPA funds donated by the Hancock County Commissioners.

“This grant will enable Fidium Fiber to bring affordable, high quality fiber optic, high-speed internet to all residents in Orland,” according to a press release. “The Orland Broadband Committee would like to extend many thanks to the Town of Orland voters, the Orland Board of Selectmen, the Hancock County Commissioners, and Fidium Fiber for their support and contributions towards the grant application.”

According to Fidium Fiber, the project is planned to start in 2025, with completion within six to seven months. In the meantime, Orland residents can go to https://www.fidiumfiber.com/ to get more information about the symmetrical download/upload, no-contract service package options from 100 Mbps to 2 Gigabit. Other related local information and more is available on the www.pubfiber.org site, which supports and advocates for all of the Blue Hill Peninsula area towns, including Orland.