Maine Reaches Key Milestone for Expanding Reliable Broadband​
Read more about recent milestones met to design and build MOOSE Net.
Middle Mile & MOOSE Net
What is middle mile?
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Middle mile is the regional fiber optic infrastructure that enables last mile internet connectivity to homes, businesses, and other users at the local level. It is made up of high-capacity fiber that carries large amounts of data at high speeds over long distances and other telecommunications infrastructure (e.g. points of presence, community anchor institutions, etc.) that act as "off-ramps" that connect middle mile fiber to local networks that serve last mile connections to local homes and businesses.
MCA Contact
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John "JD" Dougherty
Director of Middle Mile
jdougherty@maineconnectivity.org
(207) 200-5736
Kevin Racelis
MOOSE Net Project Manager
kracelis@maineconnectivity.org
(207) 200-3819
What is the problem?
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Maine's existing internet infrastructure is a patchwork of individual private networks. The middle mile infrastructure supporting these networks was generally not created to support the goal of universal broadband access throughout the state. While public and private investments over the last decade, including notably the federally-funded Three Ring Binder, have added essential infrastructure to support this goal, the job is not done, and too many areas of Maine remain unserved.
Introducing MOOSE Net
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The Maine Online Optical Statewide Enabling Network (MOOSE Net) is a new strategic initiative created by the Maine Connectivity Authority to address these challenges. MCA joined with key partners to develop a $53 million project to construct the MOOSE Net. In June 2023, Maine received a $30 million competitive grant award from the National Telecommunications Information Administration's (NTIA) Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program. The $1 billion program received over $7.5 billion of requests, and Maine’s proposal was one of 32 selected from a pool of more than 260 applications.
MOOSE Net will cover 530 miles across 131 communities, representing over 11,000 unserved local businesses and residents. It will reach more than 200 Community Anchor Institutions, including schools, hospitals, libraries, local government buildings, and civic centers.
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​Maine's low population density and rural geography make it difficult to attract the same private middle mile investment that other states have seen over the past two decades. MOOSE Net will facilitate affordable broadband access to thousands of households along the route and ensure Maine has the 21st-century broadband infrastructure businesses need to thrive and grow.
MOOSE Net’s expansion will deploy open-access fiber "highways" that provide an essential backbone network that will:
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Facilitate affordable broadband access to thousands of households along the route.
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Ensure Maine’s digital 21st-century infrastructure that businesses need to thrive and grow
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Add resiliency to Maine’s internet networks, eliminating single points of failure
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Connect Community Anchor Institutions like schools, libraries and hopsitals
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Achieve financial self-sufficiency and create a strong platform for future expansion
Operationalizing MOOSE Net
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How will MOOSE Net actually work in reality? MOOSE Net is a commercial product offering multiple potential uses through both dark and lit fiber, which will be available to diverse customer segments. The graphic below demonstrates some examples of how MOOSE Net can be leveraged.
A Public & Private Sector Partnership
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To succeed in this effort, MOOSE Net will build on a foundation of strong relationships with both the public and private sector. During the project development, MCA conducted more than 70 conversations with major carriers and other relevant stakeholders and collected data from more than 15 organizations.
The proposal was developed in collaboration with partners including NetworkMaine, the Maine Department of Transportation, Consolidated Communications, the University of Maine System, Maine OIT, and other leading statewide internet service providers and telecommunication companies. These partners are providing a mix of cash and in-kind support to best position MOOSE Net for success and rapid deployment.
