Maine to Receive Over $128 Million for Broadband From American Rescue Plan

Senator Angus King (I-ME), co-chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, applauded an announcement that the US Treasury Department is allocating more than $128 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to expand Maine broadband. These funds are drawn from the ARP’s Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, which was secured by Sen King in the final legislation and passed 50-49 with King's vote. In addition to $128,245,250 in broadband funding for the state, each of Maine’s five tribes will receive $167,000 in funding. Combined with the broadband funds Maine is projected to receive from the bipartisan infrastructure bill upon House passage, the state will receive hundreds of millions of dollars to increase affordable, high-speed broadband access statewide and narrow Maine’s digital divide.