BANGOR (AP) – U.S. Representative Tom Allen has submitted legislation that he says would expand high-speed Internet access in rural areas in Maine and across the country.

Allen said Monday that The Rural America Communication Expansion for the Future Act would use tax breaks, loans, grants and other incentives to expand broadband access. He made his announcement at Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor.

While broadband and wireless access may seem to be commonly available almost everywhere, Allen said the fact is those services aren’t available in vast expanses in Maine, or are of poor quality or prohibitively expensive.

AP-ES-04-07-08 1029EDT