Maine’s rural landscape is a catalyst for broadband deployment

Maine isn’t nearly as far removed as say, Alaska, but it still must cope with broadband challenges stemming from its remote location. Andrew Butcher, president of the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA), named two key hurdles to broadband access in Maine: the sheer rurality of the state and, on a related note, community capacity to drive demand. “There’s a significant amount of space and not enough humans,” Butcher said. “We have the highest concentration of rural population in the country, meaning that the majority of people in the state live in very rural areas.” The state consists of many rural towns partly due to Maine’s distinct geography, which Butcher noted is “very mountainous and [has] a very jagged coastline.” So, most broadband infrastructure will likely be built aerially, or in some cases, through an underwater cable to connect islands. Butcher went on to say Maine is focused on a “community-driven approach” for broadband. But population density can hinder private investment. Maine’s governor has pledged to deliver broadband to everyone who wants it by the end of 2024. For the MCA, that goal is centered around the most unconnected portions of the state. “To address some of the governor’s goal, we may need to be able to apply short-term wireless solutions as those places get into a pathway for a fixed fiber solution,” he said, noting the MCA is trialing such technology through its Jumpstart Connectivity Initiative.