PARIS — Community Concepts Finance Corporation (CCFC) and the Northern Forest Center are offering free installation and maintenance of public access WiFi hotspots to up to 10 towns, schools, public libraries, or nonprofits in the Maine West region.

The Pandemic has shined a bright light on the lack of universal internet access across Maine, especially rural Maine. As the state and communities work to expand high speed internet service to all Maine homes and businesses, WiFi hotspots represent a near-term solution to providing free public internet access to those who don’t have it.

Often located in downtown centers, public parks, libraries and schools, WiFi Hotspots are not designed to replace home or business internet service. Rather they are designed to provide convenient free internet access for short periods of time – filling the gap for people who don’t otherwise have service, helping people save on cellular data, and generally making public spaces more appealing for young people and adults.

Waterville, Millinocket, Machias and Greenville have hotspots in their downtowns, allowing shoppers to save cellphone data usage while connecting virtually and creating greater customer satisfaction and more foot traffic. Bar Harbor and Ellsworth have installed hotspots in public parks. Rumford has a WiFi hotspot at its information center. Searsport has a hotspot on a public pier. And, since the Pandemic schools and public libraries are now allowed to expand their E-Rate-supported WiFi networks for general public use outside their buildings and one way to do that is with a WiFi hotspot.

With funding provided by the Northern Border Regional Commission, USDA Rural Development, and the Maine Community Foundation, the Maine West Community Hotspot program is designed to support a network of WiFi access points in communities across the Maine West region. Applicants should have a general location in mind that provides easy public access to WiFi service. Additional technical details can be worked out as part of the program. To be eligible, though, applicants must be:

• Located in the Maine West region – towns in SAD44, SAD17, RSU10 and RSU56;
• Willing to provide internet service to the hotspot through direct funding or private sponsorships; and
• Able to provide proof of general liability insurance.

If you’re interested in expanding public internet access in your community, and fit these criteria, go to https://www.ccimaine.org/ccfc click on Maine West WiFi Hotspot Application.

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