Expanding broadband and connecting communities

By U.S. Sen. Angus King

(I-Maine)

High-speed broadband plays a substantial role in everything we do, and it’s become absolutely instrumental as we work to grow our economy and compete in the 21st century. But today, too many people in Maine and rural America are denied opportunities simply because they don’t have adequate Internet access.

In fact, the White House Council of Economic Advisers found that nearly 75 million Americans don’t have a high-speed Internet connection at home, and a recent study by the Federal Communications Commission found that 31 percent of residents in rural Maine are without high-speed access. Fortunately, we have the power to change that. By leveraging the collaborative efforts of the private sector, non-profit organizations, and all levels of government, we can expand broadband infrastructure and provide new economic and educational opportunities for Maine people.

This spirit of collaboration is already on display here in the state, where cities and towns are joining together with local Internet service providers like GWI to create municipal broadband networks. Places such as South Portland, Rockport, Ellsworth, and Old Town/Orono have recognized the significance of future-ready broadband infrastructure and are leading the way in developing strategies to expand Internet access in rural areas. Sanford took a bold and visionary step last week when it announced a public-private partnership  to build the state’s largest ​municipal broadband network. The city will start work next year on a 32-mile extension of open-access  fiber-optic cable to connect to the federally-supported Three Ring Binder network and bring high-speed connections to area businesses and residents. Forward-thinking projects like these will better position these areas for success in the years and decades to come.

In the Senate, I continue to work closely with administration officials and my colleagues to build on the efforts underway in Maine and expand broadband for rural America. At the recent Digital New England summit in Portland, I spoke with industry leaders and national policy experts about the recent report from the White House Broadband Opportunity Council, whose recommendations included several steps to modernize and reform federal regulations and programs that support broadband infrastructure and education.  I think these are valuable recommendations that we need to build on, and I support efforts to streamline and accelerate federal broadband initiatives to help us do that.

Since my time as Governor, we have seen the wide-ranging potential of the Internet. Building on our broadband infrastructure is key to expanding our economy, and all Maine people should have an equal opportunity to create a prosperous future for themselves and for their families. If we continue to work together — from the small business on Main Street to the federal government in Washington — we can give people across rural America the tools they need to succeed.