BETHEL — In February 2023, Mahoosuc Broadband Committee members wrote of their disappointment following their second rejection for grant funding for high-speed internet service in the Bethel area.

FirstLight reapplied later in 2023 under a different Maine Connectivity Authority program and on Dec. 19 the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) granted $5,328,240 in funding to telecommunications provider FirstLight.

Over the next five years, FirstLight will install and provide high speed fiber optic connectivity in Bethel, Andover, Gilead, Greenwood, Newry, Upton, Woodstock, Albany and parts of Mason Township plus other towns in its two ILECs (Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier).

When the group was rejected by MCA in February last year, they believed it was partly because of their plan to service not only “unserved” areas but “underserved” areas. Despite the rejection, they continued with this approach on their subsequent application.

Additionally, they retained the original terms that they had negotiated in the first agreement: high-speed (10 gbps) service available to all locations receiving electrical service; no data caps or throttling; no required bundling; free installation for new subscribers during construction and for one year after construction is complete; reduced residential and business pricing and no price increases for three years after construction is complete.

Patrick Coughlin and Pam Holley of FirstLight made the announcement with Community Concepts Vice President Mia Purcell, representing the Mahoosuc Broadband Committee at a meeting Bethel Town Office on Jan. 3.

Other committee members in attendance were Woodstock Select Board Member Bob McQueeney; Bethel Selectboard Vice Chair Michele Cole; Greenwood Town Manager Kim Sparks; Bethel Town Manager Sharon Jackson; Woodstock Town Manager Vern Maxfield; Gilead Selectboard Chair Freeman Corriveau; and Northern Forest Center Senior Program Director Mike Wilson.

“I think I was 17 when we started this, joked Coughlin, who thanked Purcell and Wilson, specifically.

This proposal is a 50/50 split between MCA and FirstLight. Coughlin said, “there are not enough capital dollars to build fiber everywhere,” whether in Maine or elsewhere. Of this unique proposal he said, “We both have skin in the game.”

Schedule

The towns that are contributing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds will be the towns where they concentrate first, said Coughlin. “We’ll get you these services as quickly as we can build them. Knock on wood, let’s have a light winter.”

While Newry and Bethel did not commit ARPA funds, Greenwood, Woodstock and Gilead have. However, at a select board meeting later that day, the Bethel selectboard allotted $10,000 toward the project. (see related story)

ARPA funds contributed from the other areas are: Woodstock, $136, 878; Greenwood $87,938; Gilead $20,338; and Oxford County, $60,120.

Cole asked what would happen if the funding coming from the towns was short. Coughlin said they would figure that out.

Coughlin said he was confident they would meet the five-year schedule set by MCA but crews could be affected by digging moratoriums, supply chain issues, and manpower issues.

FirstLight will build over existing cable giving people a choice between fiber and cable.

“Will most of the network be underground?” Corriveau asked

“If buried now it will be buried, if aerial now, it will be aerial,” responded Holly. “If we can change it to aerial we will. We prefer aerial.”

Installation fees are waived during construction and for a year after. However, there could be construction fees for customers at the end of a long driveway.

Coughlin said they will use door tags, aggressive outreach by phone, and radio advertising to let people know that fiber is available in their neighborhoods.

“Once you get fiber you will not go back,” he said.

Coughlin said he will include a refresh of the areas that currently have fiber when he gets the final installation schedule from MCA later this month.

Finalizing contract

Coughlin said COVID forced the federal government to acknowledge there were some areas in this country that didn’t have broadband and weren’t going to get it unless there was some type of stimulus … “They have helped accelerate this pace … If kids need to work remotely, the speed of your home service should be as good as you sitting in your office.”

Of the contract, Purcell said, “Our goal was that everyone would have service … The state said they would consider funding underserved and unserved locations in the first Connect the Ready round. Ultimately, they didn’t. They just looked at unserved locations. By wanting to build out, and proposing to build out all of our unserved and underserved locations, we pushed ourselves back in terms of priority, but on the other hand the fact that we had that as our priority, we are getting everything built out through this approach.

“All is not lost except for time,”

Coughlin agreed that while the initial project application was rejected, this third application includes the Mahosuc towns plus all of the other towns in FirstLight’s two ILECs. “Hopefully the state will see more partnerships like this,” said Coughlin, “since the dollars aren’t there for the state to foot the whole bill.” Purcell said MCA recognized the quality of their contract and commitment of funds toward the project. “MCA saw that the towns were truly invested,” said Coughlin

A draft of the new contract will be sent to the towns the week of Jan. 8.

“We’re just excited,” said Maxfield

“It has been a long road,” said Coughlin

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