(TNS) — ConnectMaine Authority opened applications Thursday for about half of the $15 million bond money approved by voters last July to fund high-speed broadband infrastructure projects in unserved and underserved communities in the state.
The authority, which oversees the bond money, will hold two rounds of applications, the second early in the summer after town meetings,
Stephenie MacLagan
, assistant director of ConnectMaine, said during the authority's board meeting Thursday.
Applications for internet provider expansion projects are due by
April 12 and those for community-driven infrastructure projects are due by
April 29. Close to 75 percent of voters approved the $15 million bond proposal during last July's election.
While the Legislature stalled in the past on investments like a $15 million broadband bond blocked by
Republicans in 2019, lawmakers and politicians are increasingly warming to bonds as the coronavirus pandemic reveals the shortcomings of
Maine's internet infrastructure.
During her budget address Tuesday, Gov.
Janet Mills
recommended another $30 million for broadband expansion. A separate bill for a $100 million broadband bond, sponsored by Sen.
Rick Bennett
, R-
Oxford, is also being considered in the Legislature this year.
U.S. Sen.
Susan Collins
also on Wednesday proposed a $15 billion plan to
Congress to increase rural broadband funding nationwide.
(c)2021 the Bangor Daily News (Bangor, Maine). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
