PARIS — Maine adult education programs from Kittery to Fort Kent are now the Community Connection for exploring the uses of high-speed broadband Internet. Programs throughout the state, including Oxford Hills/Buckfield Adult Education, are offering technical assistance presentations to community groups to explain the ways in which people can utilize broadband for education, enrichment, health, access to government information and other services.
Presenters will show participants how they can find broadband options in their own neighborhoods. The program is made possible through a broadband stimulus grant awarded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to the Connect ME Authority, the state agency charged with expanding broadband service and adoption in Maine.
Broadband access can be a vital link to expanding educational opportunities, exciting new entertainment options, health information, economic and community development resources and expanded governmental services. In these brief presentations, the participating adult education programs will provide examples of some of these services, such as the ability to access important health information or completing employment applications, many times difficult or impossible to do without broadband access.
“Maine adult education programs are already providing extensive computer-based training statewide,” said Phil Lindley, the authority’s executive director. “We need to help people learn how high-speed Internet can enrich their lives. Adult education programs are the perfect way to communicate this important information.”
The goal of the ConnectME Authority is to facilitate universal availability of Maine’s broadband service and to increase the “take rate” or adoption to equal or greater than the national average.
The initial broadband technical assistance presentations are about 10 minutes long and are a perfect program for civic or social organizations. To schedule a presentation contact Oxford Hills/Buckfield Adult Education at 743-8842, option 1, or the nearest participating adult education program. Participating programs can be located through the ConnectME website or by calling the Maine Adult Education Association at 1-800-322-5455.
A listing of participating adult education programs is available at the ConnectME Authority website, www.maine.gov/conntectme.
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