Committee supports Bellows bill to encourage further broadband coverage in Maine

Posted: January 30, 2020 | Senator Bellows

On Thursday, the Legislature’s Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee unanimously supported LD 1563, “An Act To Encourage the Development of Broadband Coverage in Rural Maine,” a bill sponsored by Sen. Shenna Bellows, D-Manchester, to encourage further development of broadband coverage in Maine.

“Maine needs high-speed, reliable internet to grow our economy, educate our young people and care for our seniors,” said Sen. Bellows. “I’m glad to have the Committee’s support for my bill to make it simpler for communities to secure planning grants for broadband and to identify where in the state we need to invest to ensure every Mainer has access to reliable, high-speed internet.”

As amended by the Committee on Thursday, LD 1563 accomplishes these goals by making four changes:

  • Renaming ConnectME to ConnectMaine; 
  • Requiring ConnectMaine to collect data annually from providers that is needed to accomplish the statutory goals of the authority;
  • Changing the ConnectMaine planning grant structure to provide more flexibility for communities and lower the potential barriers for communities to start the process of planning; and
  • Giving ConnectMaine the authority to establish rules to implement these changes.

At a recent public hearing on LD 1563, ConnectME and GrowSmart Maine, a statewide nonpartisan organization working to create lasting prosperity without sacrificing the quality of life that defines Maine, expressed support for the bill.

The name change makes it clear that ConnectMaine will work on behalf of the entire state, not any individual Mainer. The data collection will ensure that it is known which areas are or are not underserved. There are significant amounts of federal money available for broadband, but much of that money has restrictions that can only be met if Maine has certain required data. And reducing the regulatory burden on community groups who wish to pursue broadband planning grants is in keeping with the state’s goals to encourage local leadership and investment in broadband by helping not to make life more complicated or difficult for these local groups.

The bill next faces votes in the Maine Senate and House.