REGION — Anyone interested in learning about opportunities to expand access to reliable, affordable, high speed, internet service in Oxford County is encouraged to join the third Maine West Broadband Summit – virtually from 8:30-10:00 a.m. Friday, June 4.
The event features talks by Peggy Shaffer, Director of the ConnectMaine Authority, about current and expected state and federal funding for broadband expansion – and the steps needed to access resources – and Sen. Rick Bennett who is championing state funding and creation of a new Maine Connectivity Authority to support and manage statewide broadband buildout.
Participants will also hear from leaders of community broadband committees in Denmark, Harrison, and the Mahoosuc region about work they’re doing to prepare for broadband funding and expansion.
“Now is the time for communities to be proactive in organizing themselves to secure high speed internet service for all their residents,” said Mia Purcell, Vice President for Economic Development at Community Concepts Finance Corporation. “After a challenging year, it has never been clearer how vital reliable, high speed internet service is to everyone’s ability to access education, health, business, and community services. We finally seeing significant resources lining up to address this fundamental issue and we hope communities will be ready to take advantage of the opportunity.”
The Summit is open to anyone interested in learning about broadband expansion – from town managers and select board members to local residents who aren’t satisfied with their current service or just want to get involved.
To register for the Maine Broadband Summit, go to Maine West Broadband Summit 2021 Tickets
(https://www.eventbrite.com/e/maine-west-broadband-summit-2021-tickets-153034762093?keep_tld=1:)
After last year’s Maine West Broadband Summit, representatives of a dozen communities participated in a Broadband Boot Camp to build their readiness to act on this issue. Many are now building the plans needed to take advantage of the hundreds of millions of state and federal dollars currently being directed to rural broadband expansion.
The Broadband Summit is being organized by Community Concepts Finance Corporation and the Northern Forest Center in partnership with the ConnectMaine Authority, Maine Broadband Coalition and the Island Institute. It is part of the Maine West initiative – a partnership of local and regional organizations working to position rural communities in northern Oxford County as viable and attractive places to live, work, do business, and raise families.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
