LD 1767, An Act To Encourage Community Network Development

Sponsored by Senator Joe Perry

Hermon.net provides residents with community network, high-speed Internet, and educational opportunities

Augusta--Senator Joe Perry, D-Penobscot County, Thursday, will present a bill to the Utilities and Energy Committee that would encourage communities across Maine to develop low-cost community networks modeled after Hermon, Maine's successful Hermon.net network.

This bill establishes the Education and Municipal Technology Advisory Committee to aid in the development and maintenance of community networks by municipalities and schools within those municipalities working in partnership. Under the bill, a community network is a computer system within a municipality that provides free or low-cost access to information and services through a centrally managed network or intranet or Internet connection or any combination of network and connections.

The bill makes a one-time appropriation for the purpose of establishing a grant program from a fund to be administered by the advisory committee to aid in the development of community networks and an ongoing appropriation for expenses of the advisory committee members.

For more information on the bill, click here...