Press Release: New Program to Provide Internet Connectivity to Maine Homes and Businesses with No Current Option

Rural and remote locations in Maine will have opportunity to connect by the end of 2024

October 17, 2024 – PORTLAND – Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA), the public agency leading the statewide expansion of broadband and digital equity in Maine, today announces the launch of the Working Internet ASAP (WIA) Program to connect the hardest-to-reach places across the state. This program is one way that MCA is fulfilling the commitment to provide all people in Maine with an option to connect to the internet by the end of 2024.

“Two years ago, I set an ambitious goal of ensuring that anyone in Maine who wanted an internet connection would be able to have one by the end of this year. The Working Internet ASAP Program is the last step toward fulfilling that goal, and will make available a reliable internet connection for Maine’s hardest-to-reach locations,” said Governor Janet Mills. “Maine has more work to do to build out our broadband infrastructure – but by the end of this year, everyone in our state will have the opportunity to access a reliable connection.”

Since 2020, MCA has made significant progress, facilitating the investment of nearly $300 million in public and private funding to connect 86,000 locations to high-speed internet. This represents a 26 percent increase in statewide access to broadband internet in the last two years. As a result of that progress, only 1.5 percent of Maine’s most rural and remote homes and businesses (approximately 9,000) have no access to any type of internet service or technology to connect.

To provide these locations with an option to connect, MCA will coordinate the bulk purchase of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite hardware and service reservations from Starlink. Starlink, the world’s largest LEO satellite provider, was selected by MCA through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) in the summer of 2024.

“Oxford County has a disproportionate number of remote and hard-to-reach locations,“ said Mia Purcell, Vice President of Economic Development & Impact at Community Concepts. “The Working Internet ASAP Program will provide an option to those homes and businesses to equitably access the benefits of reliable internet, including online education, employment, and telehealth opportunities,” Purcell said.

The WIA Program is part of complementary funding programs MCA has developed, implemented, and executed in the past two years. In 2025, MCA will facilitate the investment of an additional $350 million in broadband infrastructure through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program to serve the remaining 5% of locations in Maine that currently have slow and unreliable internet service.

“While we build the infrastructure for our future, we can't afford for people to be living in the digital dark,” said Andrew Butcher, President of MCA. “The WIA Program represents a critical step in fulfilling our commitment to expanding broadband access and digital equity in Maine,” said Butcher.

Starting this November, eligible homes and businesses can use MCA’s enrollment portal to apply for subsidized LEO satellite hardware, installation support, and information about developing digital skills that will improve the use of their new connection. MCA will conduct outreach to all eligible locations through a marketing campaign, targeted advertising, direct mail, and coordination with local and regional organizations like Regional & Wabanaki Broadband Partners. Enrollment for this program will remain open on a rolling basis. For more information, visit www.maineconnectivity.org/wia.

About MCA: Focusing on projects, places and people, the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) advances digital equity for all Maine people. Established in 2021, MCA is a quasi-governmental agency charged with achieving universal access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet service statewide. MCA has three statutory goals:
(1) Expand effective, accessible connectivity in every part of the state;
(2) Support the creation of secure, affordable, reliable, competitive, sustainable and forward-looking internet infrastructure that can meet future needs; and
(3) Ensure that all residents, businesses and institutions in Maine are able to take full advantage of the economic, health, educational and other opportunities available through connectivity services.

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