FARMINGTON – A state grant to expand fiber-optic Internet service will provide access to the latest medical technology and educational opportunities at three medical centers and seven health-care facilities in Franklin, Oxford and Androscoggin counties.

The $357,840 ConnectME Authority grant was awarded to Franklin Community Health Network. It will provide the first-year, 15 percent match needed for a Federal Communications Commission grant of $3.6 million which was received last November, said Ralph Johnson, chief information officer for Franklin Community Health Network.

Initially, fiber-optic cable will be added to Franklin Memorial Hospital, Rockomeka Family Practice in Livermore Falls, the Bethel Area Health Center, the Western Maine Family Health Center in Livermore Falls and Bridgton and Rumford hospitals.

In 2010, broadband service will be extended to the Strong Area Health Center, Mt. Abram Regional Health Center in Kingfield and the Rangeley Region Health Center.

Once the infrastructure is in place, businesses and residents will also be able to subscribe to high-speed Internet service.

The advantages of broadband networks for health-care providers include delivery of more efficient services, reduced costs and travel time for consumers and fewer medical errors. It also will allow health-care providers to share information.

“Access to high-speed Internet provided by this initiative will greatly benefit area health-care providers, who will be granted uninterrupted, secure connections and increased capacity to support distance learning, telemedicine and other emerging technologies such as digital imaging and electronic medical records,” Johnson said.

He said the project would provide area organizations with new ways to educate, connect with and provide services to the community.

With an expected two-year construction period, bid requests were being written, Johnson said. The FCC grant allows five years to complete the project.

The Maine Legislature established the ConnectME Authority to help expand broadband access in rural, unserved areas that have little opportunity to acquire access from traditional providers.

The Rural Western and Central Maine Broadband Initiative, the project led by the Franklin Community Health Network, includes HealthReach Network Community Health Centers and Central Maine Healthcare.