Rural broadband

Due to a lack of continued funding from Congress, the last full subsidy was issued in April, with only a potential partial discount available for some customers in May.

The new funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by Congress two years ago.

The analysis from Aroostook Partnership and county commissioners details exactly what areas in the county are unserved or underserved. It also mapped more than 36,000 homes and performed broadband speed tests to look for coverage gaps.

The ConnectMaine Authority said it added 8,000 homes to the network last year, will add 6,000 more this year, and more than 30,000 over the next few years.

In a virtual press conference, King specifically noted that, between the infrastructure package and last year's American Rescue Plan, Maine received more than $400 million to expand high-speed broadband across the state.

Gov. Janet Mills administered the oath to Andrew Butcher on Wednesday after the state Senate unanimously endorsed his nomination to lead the Maine Connectivity Authority.

Andrew Butcher led the Maine Broadband Coalition, a group that has pushed for better internet access. He also worked for the Greater Portland Council of Governments.

The Maine Connectivity Authority is just six months old, but the quasi-governmental agency is already sitting on $21 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan that Democrats in Congress passed earlier this year, and it will soon submit its proposal to the U.S. Treasury Dept. to spend $128 million more.

The proposal would overhaul an obscure state agency created nearly 15 years ago and create a new one with the power to own and invest in rural broadband infrastructure projects that private providers have sworn off as unprofitable. The new agency would also be charged with making sure broadband access is affordable.

BANGOR, Maine - Senators from Maine and West Virginia are calling on the Federal Communications Commission to improve access to mobile broadband hotspots…