The BDN Opinion section operates independently and does not set news policies or contribute to reporting or editing articles elsewhere in the newspaper or on bangordailynews.com
Susan Corbett of the National Digital Equity Center and Marijke Visser of the Maine State Library are the co-chairs of the Maine Digital Equity Alliance.
There are two critical, but distinct, requirements to make sure everyone in Maine who wants an internet connection has access to fast, reliable and affordable internet and benefits from all this technology and digital tools have to offer.
The first requirement is an investment in the technologies that bring internet access to homes and businesses. On this front, Maine is making incredible progress with a generational investment by the state and federal governments, with significant contributions from communities and internet service providers.
Since 2021, Maine has invested more than $140 million in internet technology, which has also attracted nearly $81 million in matching private investment. Together, nearly 80,000 locations now have access to high-speed internet that didn’t have access before.
The number of homes and businesses with a slow and unreliable internet connection has dropped to about 28,000, or just about 4 percent of all locations in the state, according to the Maine Connectivity Authority. As of May, only 1 percent of locations in Maine have no internet service option at all.
That’s real progress.
Later this year, another $272 million will be invested from the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program (BEAD), which will help to expand access to those last hard-to-reach locations. Those dollars are expected to attract more than $70 million in private and community investment.
The second requirement is understanding why even those with access cannot use that service to its full potential. For many Maine people, the ability to use the tool is more important than investments in poles and wires.
Thousands of people in Maine have broadband internet service available at their homes but remain unconnected. There are many reasons: they don’t have the skills they need to use the internet; they’re afraid of scams and crooks; they don’t have internet-ready equipment necessary to take full advantage of access; or–perhaps most common of all–they simply can’t afford to sign up.
Addressing these issues of adoption and affordability were the core topics discussed when more than 120 attendees joined the Maine Connectivity Authority at the 2nd Annual Digital Equity Workshop in May at the University of Maine at Farmington.
The event focused on efforts in Maine to close the digital divide by helping Maine people overcome the barriers they face to connectivity, including living in rural areas, lack of technology, safety concerns and appropriate skills training.
Digital equity is about ensuring that all Maine people can meaningfully use the internet to bring value to their lives, from online banking and searching for resources and information, to accessing a class or training, applying for a job, running a business or working remotely.
In February, Maine became the first state in the country to have its Digital Equity Plan approved by the federal government. In June, MCA announced over $12 million in awards through the Connectivity Hubs grant program, supporting 12 projects that touched eight counties.
There’s tremendous work happening to close the digital divide, and Maine is a leader in the country, ensuring people can truly connect. If your organization wants to be part of this work or learn more about it, join us in the Digital Equity Alliance and become part of a coalition of organizations, communities, and individuals working together to close the digital divide.
(Find details and sign up at https://www.maineconnectivity.org/digital-equity)