IN LAST WEEK’S “STATE OF THE STATE” ADDRESS, GOVERNOR JANET MILLS ASKED LAWMAKERS TO APPROPRIATE 15 MILLION DOLLARS TO EXPAND HIGH SPEED INTERNET IN MAINE’S RURAL AREAS. AS WMTW’S NEWS-8’S PHIL HIRSCHKORN REPORTS - THERE IS NOW A BILL AIMED AT ACCOMPLISHING THAT GOAL. (VO 1: RURAL FILE…PRESSER WIDESHOT) IN RURAL MAINE, BUSINESSES SOMETIMES STRUGGLE TO COMPETE, BECAUSE THEY CAN’T REACH CUSTOMERS ONLINE…. STUDENTS ARE DISADVANTAGED ON HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS… AND SENIORS CAN’T ACCESS TELEMEDICINE. WALDO COUNTY SENATOR ERIN HERBIG IS SPONSORING THE BILL. (SOT STATE SEN. ERIN HERBERG, PODIUM @ 2:55) “BECAUSE THE LONGER WE WAIT TO MAKE THIS INVESTMENT, THE LONGER MAINE’S RURAL COMMUNITIES FALL FURTHER AND FURTHER BEHIND IN TODAY’S ECONOMY.” (VO 2; GFX — SOURCES: U.S. CENSUS; CONNECTME) MAINE RANKS áLASTá IN NEW ENGLAND FOR HIGH- SPEED INTERNET SERVICE, WITH AN ESTMATED 83- THOUSAND ADDRESSES WITH NO “ADEQUATE” ACCESS. (TWO SHOT) HERBIG LIVES IN BELFAST AND UNDERSTANDS THE PROBLEM FIRST- HAND. (SOT STATE SEN. ERIN HERBERG, INTERVIEW @ 19:19) “MYSELF AND A LOT OF MY CONSTITUENTS HAVE TO GO EITHER OUTSIDE OF A TOWN OFFICE OR A TOWN LIBRARY TO SIT OUTSIDE WHERE THEY HAVE A WI- FI.” (VO 3: BUCKLES THREE SHOT…THEIR PHOTOS) JIM BUCKLE AND HIS WIFE, HANNAH, ARE ORGANIC VEGETABLE FARMERS IN UNITY. THEY’RE STUCK WITH VERY LOW SPEED INTERNET SERVICE BUT RELY ON IT FOR RESEARCH, ONLINE SEMINARS, SALES, AND BILLING. (SOT JIM BUCKLE @ 11:42) “IT’S JUST THE TWO OF US MANAGING SEVERAL ACRES AND DOING ALL PARTS OF IT FROM A TO Z. SO, IF I HAVE TO TAKE MORE TIME, OR IF WE HAVE TO TAKE MORE TIME TO DO THESE THINGS, IT’S JUST TAKING AWAY FROM THE IMPORTANT STUFF OF GETTING OUT THERE AND FARMING AND CULTIVATING AND DOING OUR JOB.” (PHIL STANDUP @ 28:00) “THE ESTIMATED COST OF TO FULLY WIRE MAINE FOR BROADBAND IS OVER $100 MILLION. THIS $15 MILLION DOWN PAYMENT IS MEANT TO ATTRACT MATCHING FUNDS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.” (VO 4: RURAL FILE) ALREADY, THIS WEEK, THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WILL ANNOUNCE A MULTI- MILLION DOLLAR INVETMENT TO DELIV
Bill calls for $15M to expand high-speed internet to rural Maine
Updated: 7:04 PM EST Jan 28, 2021
A week after Gov. Janet Mills in her State of the State address called on lawmakers to spend $15 million to expand high-speed internet to rural Maine, a bill has been submitted to accomplish that goal.The bill’s sponsor, Waldo County state Sen. Erin Herbig, said businesses in rural Maine often can’t compete because they can’t reach customers online. Herbig said students are at a disadvantage with homework assignments and many Maine seniors can’t access telemedicine due to the lack of broadband.”This is the year that Maine needs to step up and make an investment in reliable, high-speed internet. Because the longer we wait to make this investment, the longer Maine’s rural communities fall further and further behind in today’s economy,”Herbig said.Organic farmers Jim Buckle and Hannah Hamilton, of Unity, said they are stuck with very low-speed internet service but rely on it for research, online seminars, sales and billing.”It’s just the two of us managing several acres and doing all parts of it from A to Z.So, if I have to take more time, or if we have to take more time to do these things, it’s just taking away from the important stuff of getting out there and farming,” Buckle said.In addition to the $15 million in the bill, the federal Department of Agriculture will announce this week a multimillion-dollar investment to deliver broadband to 4,500 Maine homes.The estimated cost to bring broadband to all of Maine is more than $100 million. The $15 million is meant to attract matching funds from the private sector and the federal government.
A week after Gov. Janet Mills in her State of the State address called on lawmakers to spend $15 million to expand high-speed internet to rural Maine, a bill has been submitted to accomplish that goal.
The bill’s sponsor, Waldo County state Sen. Erin Herbig, said businesses in rural Maine often can’t compete because they can’t reach customers online. Herbig said students are at a disadvantage with homework assignments and many Maine seniors can’t access telemedicine due to the lack of broadband.
“This is the year that Maine needs to step up and make an investment in reliable, high-speed internet. Because the longer we wait to make this investment, the longer Maine’s rural communities fall further and further behind in today’s economy,”Herbig said.
Organic farmers Jim Buckle and Hannah Hamilton, of Unity, said they are stuck with very low-speed internet service but rely on it for research, online seminars, sales and billing.
“It’s just the two of us managing several acres and doing all parts of it from A to Z.So, if I have to take more time, or if we have to take more time to do these things, it’s just taking away from the important stuff of getting out there and farming,” Buckle said.
In addition to the $15 million in the bill, the federal Department of Agriculture will announce this week a multimillion-dollar investment to deliver broadband to 4,500 Maine homes.
The estimated cost to bring broadband to all of Maine is more than $100 million. The $15 million is meant to attract matching funds from the private sector and the federal government.