Grant moves broadband project ahead

By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Piscataquis County Economic Development Council (PCEDC) now has $120,000 for broadband Internet planning thanks to the Office of the Maine Attorney General, PCEDC Executive Director Chris Winstead announced during a Sept. 20 meeting of the county commissioners.

“Back in January we had a conversation about broadband,” Winstead said. He then visited all of the region’s select boards to gauge interest in a county-wide broadband Internet feasibility study. Winstead said a resulting grant application, supported across Piscataquis County, to the ConnectMe Authority was not successful.

Winstead said he and State Rep. Norm Higgins (R-Dover-Foxcroft) were not deterred and looked at other funding sources. Earlier in the month Winstead received a letter from Attorney General Janet T. Mills.

“Per your request, I will fund this project from consumer settlements this office has reached with several wireless carriers,” Mills wrote. “You will be receiving a check in the amount of $120,000 from the state treasurer within the next couple of weeks.”

Mills wrote that the PCEDC would be working with Axiom Technologies of Machias “to create a blueprint for implementing greater connectivity to the region.” She added, “I understand that this initial funding is needed immediately so that you can apply for federal implementation funding early next year. I agree that this project will be a great benefit to the residents of the region, affording them much needed economic and educational opportunities.”

Winstead said the Axiom Technologies assessment should be completed by February, “So we can figure how do we extend access to broadband.”

“There is no cost-sharing, so all dollars are going directly to Axiom,” Winstead said. “It really is a first step for creating a road map. We continue, Norm and I, to advocate on behalf of broadband in Piscataquis County.”

Commissioner Jim Annis said Winstead went to all of the communities in the county “and convinced them this is the the way to go. He didn’t get one or two towns, he got every town.”

“Our communities realize if we don’t work together we will get left in the dark,” Winstead said. “What this will do is determine with the assets that we have and with what we have for needs, what can we afford.”

The PCDEDC executive director said there could be a multitude of solutions for increasing access to broadband Internet in the county, and he will keep the commissioners updated.

In other business, county officials heard from Moosehead Lake Economic Development Corporation President Luke Muzzy and Sally Johnson, chair of the group’s wayfinding sign initiative, on the latest project developments.

“We are at a point where we are actually having signs fabricated as we speak,” Muzzy said, saying the first project phase has an approximate $200,000 cost and these directionals are being made at Burr Signs in Scarborough.

Muzzy thanked the commissioners for the $10,000 contribution from the county and said permission would be requested to place signs within the MDOT right of way in the unorganized territories of Big Moose, Frenchtown, Lily Bay and Little Moose. Muzzy said the towns of Greenville and Beaver Cove are on board for sign placement.

“We are willing to donate signs to the county or we would own the signs,” Muzzy said, with the commissioners making a decision at a later date.

“There is an economic benefit to wayfinding,” Johnson said, about visitors to the region. “The perception is if you have more to do, they stay more and all that translates to more dollars for your businesses.” She said the signs will be located across the Moosehead Lake region and include arrows and mileage distances to various sites.

Muzzy said the signs lead to fishing, hiking and boating destinations that are popular and easily-accessible to tourists. “The hidden gems will stay hidden,” he said.

“No matter who you talk to in the tourism industry, they say wayfinding is one of the most important things you can do for tourists and locals,” Muzzy said.

“The budget has consumed most of my time the last few weeks,” Interim County Manager Tom Lizotte said in his report. He said the commissioners would be meeting during the following week to review the first draft of the 2016 county spending plan.

“The budget committee’s first meeting is going to be Oct. 5,” Lizotte said.