Connect ME off to a great start

In the three years since Maine Gov. John Baldacci announced that the state would “ensure that 90 percent of Maine communities have broadband access by 2010,” Connect ME has achieved much success.

Connect ME is the smallest agency in the state of Maine. Using a special telecommunications provider’s tax, the state has been able to map out which communities didn’t have broadband and connect approximately 17,000 households.

Connect ME Executive Director Phillip Lindley said:

“We believe broadband is a necessity, especially in rural areas, and it helps the entire state by reducing pollution, traffic, allowing telecommuting and better child care, and providing access to additional government services.”

While off to a good start Connect ME has not yet reached its goal. In the next two years, the agency would have to connect approximately 40,000 more households to achieve 90 percent coverage.

In Speed Matters 2008 State-by-State Internet Connection Speed Report, Maine ranked 21st in the nation, with a median download speed of 2.5 megabits per second.

Connect ME is one of many programs indexed in the Communications Workers of America and Alliance for Public Technology’s searchable database of state-level broadband initiatives.

'Connect ME' is Maine’s mantra for 90 percent broadband by 2010 (Broadband Census)

ConnectME Authority (Connect ME)

2008 Report on Internet Speeds in All 50 States (Speed Matters)

State Broadband Initiatives - Laboratories of Innovation (Speed Matters)