County-wide approach could bring broadband to the region

By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Piscataquis County Commissioners gave the go-ahead to Piscataquis County Economic Development Council (PCEDC) Executive Director Christopher Winstead to pursue a proposed broadband feasibility study for county communities, during a Jan. 19 meeting.

“It’s a boon to small business, and that’s where the jobs are going to be,” County Manager Tom Lizotte said shortly before the commissioners OKed Winstead’s concept.

Winstead said the PCEDC began the conversation on increasing broadband in the region several years ago, and more recently State Rep. Norm Higgins (R-Dover-Foxcroft) has conducted a great deal of work including a bill creating opportunities for towns to go after feasibility studies.

“I really think one of the best proposals is to look at a county-wide solution,” Winstead said. He said a consortium of Piscataquis County communities could enable for a study to look at the broadband providers available, access speeds, household data, what infrastructure is available and what the potential for broadband is.

The county would put out a request for proposals, and grant funds possibly available through the U.S. Economic Development Administration and/or the Northern Regional Border Commission.

“We have several communities that want to move on broadband because they realize the economic development potential,” Winstead said. “From a cost standpoint, I think it would be prudent to go after this as a county. Dover-Foxcroft would have what their solution would look like, Greenville would have what their solution would look like and Milo and Brownville would what their solution looks like, each community is going to have a different solution.”

Winstead said he plans to meet with the various select boards to gauge interest and ensure efforts are not being unnecessarily duplicated. “First and foremost I would like to have some conversations to see what the community’s level of interest is,” he said.

“This is the first step moving forward and I think the only way we are going to do it is through a county-wide approach,” Winstead said, saying once a broadband feasibility study is in place then the county can seek outside funding for the technology improvements. He cited telecommuting from the region as one potential benefit under improved broadband.

“We are not committing to a cost, we are committing to a concept,” Commissioners Chair Fred Trask before Winstead was given approval to proceed.

ROBERTS

In other business, Sheriff John Goggin told the commissioners, “I have a resignation letter I regretfully have to turn in for long, long-time employee Dave Roberts.” Goggin said the telecommunications supervisor’s last day will be on Feb. 5.

“Dave has been with us for I don’t know how many years,” Goggin said. “Dave is an irreplaceable kind of person.”

Emergency Management Agency Director Tom Capraro told the commissioners, “It looks like in 2018 we will have a large-scale exercise.” He said this event will involve first-responders from across the state and potentially could be held in Greenville in August.

“The big part of that is you get all that training and all the opportunities for local responders leading up to that,” Capraro said.