“We’re making it easier for people to live, work, and do business everywhere in Maine. Everywhere. People like Rob and Alice, a couple who wanted to move to a small town in Maine but they needed high-speed internet for work.
Seven years ago, there was no way they could have moved to a place like Bremen, Maine and have fast enough internet. But thanks to our investments in broadband, that’s exactly what they did. Now, Alice and Rob are deeply involved in their community, and just this past fall they welcomed a baby boy to their family.”
–Governor Mills, State of the State Address
MCA is creating opportunities across Maine by enabling high-speed internet access and digital readiness. Our work is made possible through public investment, state leaders including Governor Mills, regional partners, and local champions. Thank you again to Rob and Alice for sharing your story and reminding us all just how significant this work is.
MCA’s 2025 Impact Report is here! Despite 2025 being a year of challenges, we persevered. We saw progress in all areas of our work through our commitment to and investment in communities across Maine. Use the link in bio to read this year’s report.
Remember dial-up? It's incredible to think about how far our internet capabilities have come in a few short decades. In Maine, however, there are still tens of thousands of homes and businesses without internet connection at all. The Maine Connectivity Authority is the agency that seeks expansion of broadband and digital opportunity across Maine.
On April 29th at the Roux Institute, MCA President Andrew Butcher will join us for Open Door, our leadership series, to talk about accomplishing statewide connectivity.
Get tickets at the link in our bio. Photography by Galileo Hannigan.
With NTIA approval of Maine's BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 1, MCA can now kick off Maine's State-Led Challenge Process! The Challenge Phase will officially kick off by Friday, April 26 and will remain open for 25 days.
Learn more at /bead-challenge
Maine’s BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 1 & 2 is here ✨
Slide through to see what’s inside and to get involved in our process. MCA invites broadband leaders, partner organizations, and individuals to participate in the public comment period for our BEAD Initial Proposal. MCA will accept feedback through 12/3 for Volume 1 and 12/9 for Volume 2. You can provide feedback using the link in our bio or during one of the four Zoom sessions planned during November (register using that same link in bio).
#broadband #digitalequity #BEADProgram #internetforall
We got the best news, MOOSE Net is a go!!
MCA has been awarded a $30 million competitive grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to improve broadband infrastructure in Maine. This grant will fund 530 miles of “middle mile” infrastructure across 131 communities, passing more than 11,000 unserved houses and local businesses.
Maine’s successful grant application is bringing, in total, a $53 million project together to construct the Maine Online Optical Statewide Enabling Network (MOOSE Net), with key partners in the University of Maine System and Networkmaine, and in collaboration with the Maine Department of Transportation, Consolidated Communications, Maine State Library, Tilson Technology, dozens of other regional entities, internet service providers and telecommunication companies.
Read our press release linked in our story. #internetforall
This past Tuesday we celebrated the completion of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's (NTIA) Broadband Infrastructure Program project in the towns of Blue Hill, Brooklin, Brooksville, Castine, Deer Isle, Penobscot, Sedgwick, Stonington. Again, congratulations to these towns and Fidium Fiber on the completion of this project and the connections made.
As Abbie McMillen (pictured here in the first, third, and fifth photo), Co-Chair of the Brooksville Broadband Committee shared, "I can say for my friends and neighbors that it will transform their lives."
Photo credit: Genevieve Bristol, @islandinstitute
How would you travel and engage #broadband stakeholders around the state?
We’re pretty confident that MCA President @abutcherhere might have found the optimal method of transport to combine meaningful conversations while taking advantage of all Maine has to offer!
Thanks to the @CastinePatriot for sharing this story about a fiber installation in Penobscot. We're always excited to see more Mainers getting access to high-speed #broadband internet!
"Installation is moving ahead in Penobscot today as crews from As the Reel Turns are hanging fiber for Consolidated Communications’ expansion of broadband to every home on the Peninsula. This is their second week of fiber hanging and then new equipment may be installed to bring fiber to all who want it. The Penobscot Broadband Committee worked with other towns in the area and the State of Maine to gain a $28 million federal grant to do this work at no cost to any town. Residents will get free installation as well later this year. The project should be lit for everyone by the end of the year. Some locations may get service to homes by summer’s end. Photo courtesy of Joel Katz."
The MCA is designing a comprehensive program that will meet Maine's long-term connectivity needs, provide critical education and training, and connect everyone in Maine with affordable, reliable, and world-class internet. To do this, we must aggregate large amounts of data to help optimize the state’s broadband deployment and maximize our collective impact.
The MCA has assumed the responsibilities of the ConnectMaine Authority and will continue to engage with our ISP and industry partners to collect the most up-to-date and accurate data. It is especially critical that we collect accurate data to help maximize the available funds awarded to the state through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act.
To learn more about our data collection efforts, or to submit ISP data, please check out the link in our profile.
#maineconnectivity #broadbandforall
RFP Alert!
The MCA is working to proactively understand the state’s broadband labor gap and identify ways to address this challenge. To take full advantage of the federal funding available to Maine for broadband deployment, we will need to analyze the state’s current and future broadband workforce needs, explore the education and training necessary to fulfill those needs, and identify opportunities to build a stronger pipeline of qualified workers to support broadband deployment.
To help accomplish this goal, we are seeking third-party consulting services to develop a comprehensive analysis of the broadband industry workforce needs and opportunities for the state of Maine. Proposals are due by Tuesday, Aug 23, 2022 at 11:59 PM EDT and the full RFP link can be seen in our bio.
#broadbandforall #maineconnectivity
It's an amazing time to join the MCA team! We're hiring two new positions that will play key roles in our workforce development and digital equity initiatives as we connect everyone in Maine to affordable high-speed internet so they can participate in modern society and improve their quality of life.
The Workforce Development Manager will provide support and leadership on workforce development initiatives and partnerships. This team member will support communities around the state and industry partners as we prepare Maine's workforce with the skills to support the large-scale build-out of broadband infrastructure through a focus on education and training, workforce development, and digital equity.
The Digital Equity Coordinator will provide crucial support and leadership on digital equity and inclusion initiatives and partnerships. This team member will also support communities and partners with their expertise in the areas of digital equity, inclusion and literacy, organizational planning and development, as well as strategic initiative and partnership building.
Use the link in our bio to learn more or apply.
#broadbandforall #broadbandjobs
