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Some people argue that current standards should stay in place until underserved areas are connected but others say faster speeds are needed now.

Read Article New rules proposed by the state’s broadband internet authority would require taxpayer-subsidized broadband projects to be able to provide dramatically faster speeds than the current minimum standard and would greatly increase the portion of the state regarded as inadequately served by broadband. The ConnectMaine Authority, also known as ConnectME, typically funds broadband infrastructure grants from a relatively small pot – about $750,000 to $1 million annually – that comes from customer fees on landline telephone service. But with a $15 million state bond to dole out and...

Maine lawmakers release more details about proposed state broadband agency In a legislative committee meeting Tuesday, Gov. Janet Mills called the proposal 'one of the most important pieces of legislation' this session. Share Lawmakers on Tuesday provided more details about a bill that would establish an independent agency to oversee a sweeping expansion of high-speed internet service in the state, a proposal Gov. Janet Mills called “one of the most important pieces of legislation” before the Maine Legislature this year. An amendment to L.D. 1484, sponsored by Sen. Rick Bennett, R-Oxford...

With recently awarded funding of $71 million from the Federal Communications Commission, more rural areas of Maine may receive access to broadband internet over the next seven years. “The discussion has shifted from, ‘Is it needed? Should we do it?’ to ‘How and when?’” said Heather Johnson, commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.  Johnson was a panelist at a virtual webinar hosted last week by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and Mission Broadband, a division of Bangor-based consulting firm ProInfoNet, which aims to expand broadband to und...