December 30, 2020
Broadband expansion a challenge
SULLIVAN — The $900 billion coronavirus relief bill President Trump signed on Dec. 27 includes $7 billion to help expand broadband access. The funding, which includes a subsidy of up to $50 per month for eligible families to help pay for internet services and $300 million to expand rural broadband access, is intended to help keep Americans connected as the pandemic rages on. Adequate internet connectivity is an issue that many Mainers, especially those in rural areas unserved by internet providers, have experienced for years. “Without broadband access, people are going to…
December 15, 2020
Broadband advocates ready to award projects with bond money
Maine voters in July approved a $15 million bond for broadband expansion projects, and the first proposals are expected next month.
Last month, the Mills administration awarded $5.6 million in federal coronavirus relief funds to connect more than 700 students and teachers in rural Maine with high-speed internet service to support…
December 15, 2020
Maine Chamber of Commerce hosts webinar on future of rural broadband
BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - The Maine State Chamber of Commerce held a webinar today about the future of high-speed internet access. Government, civic, and industry leaders discussed the challenges and…
December 1, 2020
Economic recovery: State committee outlines plan for Maine's recovery from the pandemic
Just as pressing as the health concerns of the coronavirus pandemic are the economic concerns facing Maine. The Governor's Economic Recovery Committee has just rolled out its state action plan.…
December 1, 2020
#GivingTuesday: Helping fishing families and foundations
This year, many fishermen and fishing cooperatives used social media to market directly to their communities as the traditional channels for seafood sales dried up with the closure of restaurants…
November 18, 2020
Island Institute joins Dept. of Energy-led effort to bridge gaps in island energy resilience
ROCKLAND — The Island Institute is one of five organizations in the country recently awarded a contract for the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP), a new partnership sponsored by the…
November 18, 2020
‘There will be a lasting impact’: How the pandemic magnified Maine’s digital divide
The success of remote learning greatly depends on a family’s access to the internet. It's estimated that tens of thousands of households lack internet access.
“My only concern is if we do go red [status] and we’re fully remote, can my internet keep up with all the computers working around the clock?” asked Amy McGee…
October 25, 2020
Driving seemed inescapable until it wasn’t
Work commutes have declined during the pandemic, but Maine needs to log even fewer vehicle miles to meet the state's climate goals.
Ask experts about cutting vehicular emissions — the largest source of Maine’s greenhouse gas pollution — and you’re apt to hear how complex the task is. Finding ways to equitably transition from…
October 15, 2020
DOE launches partnership initiative to strengthen remote and islanded communities’ energy resilience
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Program (ETIPP), a new partnership that will provide resources and access to on-the-ground support for remote and…
October 14, 2020
Protecting Main Street from climate impacts
As the evidence and costly impacts of climate change mount, the need to view climate action as an economic imperative — not just an environmental one — is increasingly clear.…
