Midcoast Maine to Receive $35.6 Million for Community Broadband Projects

The Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) awarded two grants totaling $9,600,633 to connect 15,561 homes and businesses across Waldo and Lincoln Counties to expand access to the internet. The grants were made through MCA’s Partnerships for Enabling Middle Mile (PEMM) Program which addresses large-scale, regional broadband needs by leveraging middle-mile infrastructure. These two grants demonstrate 12 collective years of concerted community-driven broadband planning, regional collaboration, and highlight the value of public-private, regional-scale partnerships. Partnerships for Enabling Middle Mile is part of MCA's All-In Programs, and is funded by ARPA Capital Projects Fund from the U.S. Department of Treasury. MCA’s complementary programs are designed to reach the last mile in the most rural places, connect communities ready to scale their infrastructure, ensure affordable options for everyone, and invest in partnerships to build a modern broadband infrastructure for Maine.