Two Grants Will Expand Access To Broadband in Fayette and Wilton

The Maine Connectivity Authority awarded two grants to connect hard-to-reach locations in Fayette and Wilton with access to affordable, quality, high-speed internet. The Town of Fayette, in cooperation with Consolidated Communications, will receive a Connect the Ready grant of $1,875,000 to reach approximately 440 homes and businesses. The town of Wilton, also in collaboration with Consolidated Communications, will receive a Reach Me grant of $311,000 to connect approximately 169 hard-to-reach locations requiring underground infrastructure. These two grants reallocate dollars initially awarded to internet service provider Matrix Design Group, which was awarded grants to serve the two towns in early 2023. Matrix ultimately declined the awards in December 2023 when it declared it could not fulfill the grant requirements. Following that declination, a Request for Proposals was issued for the town of Fayette, which resulted in four competitive proposals. Similarly, the town of Wilton followed a community-driven process, identifying their provider of choice based on competitive service options.